MANILA, Sept. 12, 2013— The Philippines top churchman said he was praying for peace as fighting between government troops and Muslim rebels escalates in Southern Philippines.
In his short prayer, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is asking for an end to the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government troops in Zamboanga City.
A gun battle between the two warring groups also erupted in Basilan Thursday as the Zamboanga crisis enters its fourth day.
Other bishops earlier said the hostilities must stop to avoid further loss of lives, property, economic devastation and the emotional and psychological scars that all wars leave behind.
Following is Cardinal Tagle’s Tagalog short prayer for peace in Mindanao:
“Mapagmahal na Diyos, nilikha mo ang daigdig bilang sagisag ng pag-ibig mo at nilikha mo ang tao bilang katiwala mo sa pangangasiwa sa mundo.
Maganap nawa ang maganda mong panukala sa Zamboanga. Padaluyin mo ang pagmamalasakit at pagmamahalan.
Hadlangan mo po ang pagkalakat ng karahasan, mamayani nawa ang makatao at marangal na hangarin sa puso ng bawat isa.
Puksain mo ang mapanirang hangarin. Maghari nawa ang iyong katuwiran at katarungan sa Zamboanga para makamit ang kapayaan.” Amen. (CBCPNews)
