Featured image above shows NCMF OIC-Secretary Michael M. Mamukid with microphone assuring that 2024 Hajj Mission for Filipino pilgrims will go on. From the middle is Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo, and NCMF Pilgirimage OIC Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr. (Photo: SDN)
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(SDN) — The beleaguered National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) today, Friday, received a much-needed shot in the arm.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” D. Abalos, Jr. and Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo made their support known during a press conference at the NCMF Central Office in Quezon City along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
NCMF Officer-in-Charge Commissioner Michael M. Mamukid read the DILG’s statement assuring its support.
On the other hand, Dimaporo joined the media briefing with the OIC of the NCMF, and NCMF Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr., the OIC of the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment (NCMF-BPE).
But before the OIC-Secretary Mamukid of the Commission read from his smartphone the statement of the DILG he assured Filipino pilgrims’ participation in the religious activities in Makkka, Kingdon of Saudi Arabia.
“Hajj 2024 will definitely push through, in sha Allah (God-willing). That is part of our mandate. And I have strict guidance from our DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. to do our best to ensure that we have a comfortable, convenient and hassle-free Hajj 2024,” he emphasized.
Part of the DILG statement as read by the NCMF OIC:
“The DILG is committed to our enduring partnership with the NCMF in serving and supporting our Muslim communities across the nation. Through our collaboration, DILG has been dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique needs of our Muslim Filipinos. Among the vital responsibilities of the NCMF is the organization of Hajj which holds profound significance for the Muslim communities, recognizing the challenges facing Hajj 2024.
“I wish to extend our full support to the NCMF in its efforts to address and overcome challenges. With our collective effort we are optimistic that Hajj 2024 will be successful. We stand with the NCMF…”
On the other hand, Dimaporo, expressed his frustrations at the public hearings concerning the NCMF’s questionable handling of the 2023 Hajj operation at the House of Representatives.
The House through its Committee on Public Accounts has already conducted four public hearings-investigations, unravelling many facets of the government’s Hajj operation.
“First of all, I would like to say that as chairman of (Committee on) Muslim Affairs and ranking member of the 19th Congress, we are sick and tired of the investigations for the hajj,” the Dimaporo scion said.
Republic Act No. 9997, the NCMF Charter, gives the Commission the sole authority to manage, process the pilgrimage of Filipinos to Makkah.
But Dimaporo admitted that R.A. No. 9997 had already been “superseded” by Republic Act 11054, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Charter of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) established in January 2019.
He clarified that the Bangsamoro government would only be entitled to pilgrims within the scope of the BARMM.
His remarked that the only question is whether the government of Saudi Arabia will allow the BARMM to do it.
The congressman representing the first district of Lanao del Norte and his father and mother, former congressman Abdullah Dimaporo and Gov. Imelda Q. Dimaporo have already pledged support to the leadership of Mamukid at the NCMF.
Mamukid of Davao region thanked the influential clan for their expression of support.
The House leadership is inclined to conduct a fifth investigation on the 2023 Hajj operation as they asked the NCMF to provide them the “mother contracts” between the Commission and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Hajj.
Whether the NCMF will turn over the much-sought documents, it would be a much-awaited development in the soap-opera like public investigations on the Commission’s handling of last year’s pilgrimage.
The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and every adult able-bodied, mentally, and financially capable Muslim has the obligation to perform it once in a lifetime.
Shahaddah (Profession of Faith), Salat (5-Daily Prayers), Sawm (Ramadan Fasting), Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Makkah are the five obligatory pillars of the Muslim faith. — EDD K. USMAN (/)