MGen Aying reacted after seeing the news that the word “Muslim” was used to further describe the suspects of a certain crime, “Tatlong Muslim, nahulihan ng shabu.” This is a form of social discrimination using hasty generalization affecting the readers’ beliefs, emotions, behavior, opinion and attitude about our Muslim brothers. The word “Muslim” is a sacred word for our Muslim brothers. The word describes a person who follows or practices Islam- as a religion. Let us be responsible and sensitive enough to know and understand what we are saying or publishing so as not to build a social divide and misunderstanding among our fellow Filipinos. The Army and other law enforcement agencies together with the national government, non-government organizations, government agencies, civil society organizations, different religious sectors, other sectoral organizations, to include the media and community, helps build a nation. A nation built within the premise of peace and development and not by social discrimination and insensitivity. We should all learn how to understand, respect, tolerate, co-exist and live interdependently as a nation and as a people.
