Philippines: Situation of rural Christians (Catholics) in the area of Zamboanga city, Mindanao as it relates to: harassment and/or acts of violence by Muslim guerrillas; attempts at forced conversions (Muslims demanding Catholics to convert); police/military protection available to civilians, particularly women, at risk of guerrilla violence
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 March 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PHL38337.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Philippines: Situation of rural Christians (Catholics) in the area of Zamboanga city, Mindanao as it relates to: harassment and/or acts of violence by Muslim guerrillas; attempts at forced conversions (Muslims demanding Catholics to convert); police/military protection available to civilians, particularly women, at risk of guerrilla violence, 9 March 2002, PHL38337.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be961c.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 states that over 85 per cent of the population of the Philippines "claim membership" in the Roman Catholic Church and that "believers within the Christian tradition comprised 93.7 per cent of the total population" in 2000 (5 Jan. 2000). According to a 1982 report in Focus on Asian Studies, "more than 86 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 per cent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 per cent belong well over 100 Protestant denominations ... there is a vigorous 4 per cent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan" (Fall 1982).
According to Country Reports 2000,
Christian -Muslim relations were extremely strained during the year, due mainly to the intense fighting between the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and the insurgent MILF in Mindanao, hostage-taking by the terrorist ASG, and bombings in Mindanao and throughout the country
(2001, 1030-1031).
According to Amnesty International,
Political tensions on the southern island of Mindanao and neighbouring islands, continuing since the 1970s, have heightened in recent months. Thousands of civilians have fled their homes as armed conflict has escalated ...
The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller of two armed opposition groups fighting for a separate Islamic state, and has periodically engaged in kidnappings for a ransom. It is believed to have several hundred members. Sporadic peace talks between the Philippine Government and the largest armed Islamic separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), have continued to falter, amid hostilities on both sides (3 May 2000).
A 21 April 2000 AFP article states that
large numbers of Roman Catholics stayed away from churches in the southern Philippines on Good Friday amid threats attributed to Muslim extremists ... soldiers and police armed with assault rifles guarded churches in this major southern city for afternoon masses held to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago ... Regional police chief Ruben Cabagnot said ... that the authorities had uncovered a plot by Muslim separatists to bomb government commercial targets in he southern island of Mindanao, including the cities of Zamboanga, Davao and Cagayan de Oro (ibid.).
Acccording to Credo, a Christian monthly magazine published in Ann Arbor, Michigan, "the Philippine people in the south, where Christians live side by side with Muslims, are concerned and losing faith in the army and the police. In months of fighting, 5,000 government soldiers have obtained no results" (13 Aug. 2001).
No further specific information on the situation of Catholics in Zamboanga city, in Mindano, attempts at forced conversions from Catholics to Muslims, police or military protection available to civilians, particularly women, at risk of guerrilla violence could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 mentions the Interfaith Group, a registered NGO, who have "joined together in an effort to support the Mindanao peace process through work with communities of former combatants. Besides social and economic support, the Interfaith Group seeks to encourage Mindanao communities to instill their faiths in their children" (5 Sept. 2000).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International. 3 May 2000. "Philippines: all Hostages Must be Released Immediately."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 21 April 2000. "Catholics Avoid Churches in southern Philippines Amid Bomb Threats." (NEXIS)
Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000. 5 September 2000. United States Department of State, Washington, DC:
Credo [Michigan]. 13 August 2001. "In Philippines 4 Catholics Beheaded."
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. United States Department of State. United States Government Printing Office.
– Focus on Asian Studies. Fall 1982. Vol. II, No.2, "Religion in the Philippines."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
Resource Centre. Country File. Phillipines
Internet sites including
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
U.S. Committee for Refugees
Search engines including
Mamma
