By Charles Igwe
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, aged 86 and formerly Archbishop of Cotabato, has publicly decried the ongoing injustices faced by the Muslim minority in the Philippines, particularly in the Mindanao region.
In remarks made this week, he lamented that these injustices are not theoretical, but lived realities affecting many generations. Referring especially to Bangsamoro—a region where Muslims make up about 91% of the population—Quevedo highlighted poverty, marginalization, conflict and weak access to essential services as among the burdens borne by Muslim Filipinos.
Mindanao has long been troubled by both socioeconomic disadvantages and periodic violence, especially in areas along the borders of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Quevedo urged both civil society and government authorities to take concrete actions to address structural inequalities, including improved governance, equitable development, and respect for human dignity across religious lines.
He also appealed for greater interfaith solidarity, calling on Christians and Muslims alike to work together for peace and justice.
