MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) will launch Friday the agency's legal aid partnership with the Department of Justice (DoJ) and other government agencies dubbed "Muslim Community Youth Paralegal Program."
NCMF Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan Lucman said the program is a fulfillment of part of the commission's mandate to addressing the well-being of Filipino Muslims and instilling in them their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
"Our people should be equally aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Good and harmonious relations among Filipinos start with respect for each other," Lucman said.
NCMF Commissioner Edilwasif Baddiri said the program will start with a pilot project in Metro Manila.
"If this becomes successful, insha Allah (God willing), then the NCMF will try to implement it nationwide through the agency's various regional officers in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao," said Baddiri.
The NCMF has for its partners the DoJ's Public Attorney's Office, National Prosecution Service, Ateneo Human Rights Center, and the University of the Philippines-Institute of Islamic Studies.
The program will be launched at a hotel in Quezon City at about 1:30 p.m. to give to the noon time Friday prayers, Baddiri said.
As this developed, NCMF-Visayas Region Director Malo Manonggiring, who is based in Cebu City, announced the winners of the 36th Visayas Area Al-Qur'an Reciters Assembly recently.
He said the two champions are Abdul Muhaimin (93.75 percent) in the male category and Aisa Musa Mamao (96.70 percent) in the female category.
Manonggiring said the two champions will represent the Visayas Region in the 37th NQRC in June this year. (Edd K. Usman)
