The Pasay City government said Thursday that the mosque in Baclaran where several persons were injured during the November 18 violent demolition may be refurbished and converted into a tourist attraction.

Mayor Peewee Trinidad said there is a directive to transfer the mosque in Kabihasanan, Parañaque City to give way to the construction of MetroTrans, a public transport terminal with modern amenities that will cater to millions of commuters. It also aims to decongest traffic in the southwest portion of Metro Manila.

He also said that the mosque in the area may be considered a good tourist attraction because it is near bus terminals, domestic and international airports.

The city government assured Muslim residents that the mosque in Baclaran will not be demolished until such time that they will be transferred to Kabihasnan, Parañaque City.

Trinidad said the operation last November 18 was to dismantle only the shanties around but the mosque would not be touched.

He said the city government has raised P5 million from the private sector to refurbish and improve the dilapidated mosque to a state befitting a place of worship.

The mayor also explained that prior to the demolition, the city government had paid the informal settlers in the area but they came back.

Contrary to earlier reports that three people were killed during the demolition operations last November 18, the mayor said that no fatality was reported which was confirmed by Bong Alonto Farmet, former director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and one of the officials of the Ad Hoc Committee working on the transfer of the mosque.

Trinidad said the city government will shoulder all medical expenses for the victim who is confined at a hospital.

He also directed Pasay police chief, Senior Supt. Raul Petrasanta to investigate the incident and punish any erring Pasay cop who fired at the civilians during the operation.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) said the present mosque will be integrated in the plans for the MetroTrans until the completion of the new Mosque in Paranaque City. PRA owns the land where the mosque is located.

“The mosque was constructed with the knowledge and consent of PRA in 1997 after allowing them to use the subject property temporarily for vending purposes in 1996,” the statement read.

The PRA statement also said that the mosque was constructed within the proposed site of the MetroTrans and unsuitable materials like garbage were used by the illegal settlers as filling materials.