Discrimination vs. Muslims deepens amid Marawi crisis —archbishop

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo on Friday said that "intolerance and discrimination" against Muslims in the country are on the rise amid armed clashes in Marawi City.

"Many… especially those outside Marawi ... and when they hear the stories of evacuees, their prejudices rise," Quevedo said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Meanwhile, Quevedo said that there is also a need to educate Christians in order to stop such discrimination against the Muslims.

"And I say, let them live and get exposure in two, three weeks with Muslims in Cotabato for instance," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, effective for 60 days following the clashes between the government troops and ISIS-inspired Maute group that attack Marawi City.

Quevedo along with Mindanao bishops earlier backed Duterte's proclamation, noting that it must be "temporary."

He said that they will continue to support the martial law declaration "until we believe that is needed, and then we evaluate again the situation as time goes."

Quevedo also took note that there are other problems needed to be addressed in Mindanao, which include illegal drugs and corruption.

"They are not really part of rebellion but one can say that criminality is rebellion against the law. So you can (cover) that, I think, a little bit,” he said.

"But I would like to see some things that are truly accomplished definitively – the change of culture from impunity to a culture of accountability and transparency. That’s the most important," he added.

As of Thursday, June 1, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said that 120 terrorists, 36 government forces, and 19 civilians have been killed in skirmishes. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News