A Catholic archbishop on Thursday warned government against pushing through with plans to demolish a mosque to pave the way for the construction of a casino.

“Considering the anger and disgust of many Filipino Christians towards the ruling administration, the last thing it needs is the ire and hatred of Filipino Muslims,” Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said.

He likened the plan to demolish the Grand Mosque in Pasay City to a ticking bomb because it involves sensitive religious, cultural, and social issues

“Destroying a religious symbol in place of a symbol of vice and greed is the height of arrogance and brazenness.

It is a violation of Christian and Muslim religious tradition and beliefs,” said Cruz.

Earlier, Abdelmanan Tanandato, president of the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolish in Roxas Boulevard warned of a “holy war” should government pursue its plan.

“We told the government that we will not leave the mosque. If declaring holy war is the only way to preserve our mosque, we will do it,” he said.

“If we die during Ramadan for defending our holy mosque, it means we will be rewarded twice by Allah. This gives us more courage to fight for our place of worship even if it means our death. Unless the government heeds our call, blood may possibly flow on this disputed land,” said Imam Abdul Fatah Sarip.

Task Force Anti-Eviction, composed of various people’s organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs), meantime, appealed to the government to spare the mosque from eviction and demolition.

“The least that the government can do is to spare this mosque from forced eviction. The government should be reasonable, judicious, and considerate in resolving the problem since this issue or the kind of action to be taken is very sensitive in view of its religious, social, cultural, legal and political ramifications that will certainly have long lasting national and international consequences,” Ted Añana, deputy coordinator of the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) said.

In a May 26 memorandum to the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Office of Muslim Affairs, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo ordered the relocation of the Mosque structure to a site adjacent to the Coastal Road.

The memorandum said the reclaimed land must be cleared to give way to Southwest Public Transport Intermodal Center (Metrotrans).