Muslim religious leaders, particularly on the island of Basilan, led by Dr. Abhoulkhair Tarason, chairman of the Basilan Ulama Supreme Council (BUSC) have thrown their support for a peaceful, clean and credible elections Monday, May 10, saying he hopes the 50 million voters will be able to choose their leaders freely through the dictate of their conscience.

Speaking for ulama (Muslim clerics) of Basilan, Tarason, also the vice chairman of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP), said the BUSC backs the election watchdogs, such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), and National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

In a statement, Tarason reminded the public, specifically Muslims, on Islam's teachings concerning the leader and the members of the community.

"Islam," Tarason said, "emphasizes the great importance of brotherhood, mutual love, respect and cooperation between the leaders and the constituency."

He warned of the consequences of leaders' failure to fulfill their obligations and duties to others.

Leaders who neglect their duties and violate others' rights will be questioned and reckoned on the Day of Judgment.

“The Holy Qur'an and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (P. B.U.H.) decree among leaders the performance of their obligations and duties in order to fulfill the rights of others," Tarason said.

BUSC volunteers have joined the PPCRV as poll watchers and monitors across Basilan's various municipalities and barangays, he said.

The BUSC is giving full support to the PPCRV Basilan Chapter headed by Fr. Santiago Agoo of Isabela City, and Joy Miraviles for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Aside from Basilan, other ARMM areas are the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi. ARMM has about 1.6 million voters registered.

The ARMM areas have been perennially tagged by the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police as prone to political violence and electoral fraud.

Tarason cited the active involvement of the civil society as he voiced hope this would help erase, or at least, minimize electoral cheating.

He appealed "to all concerned election officials as well as the candidates and the voters to be vigilant in safeguarding the integrity of the ballots and electoral process in general."