MARAWI CITY – The Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) led by BUC co-convenor Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla and other Muslim leaders in Mindanao endorsed Professor Salipada A. Tamano to be the chairman of the newly formed National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

In a letter sent to President Arroyo, Capalla stated that Tamano’s appointment as new head of the NCMF would uphold the BUC’s major objective of helping its Muslim members to establish better peace dialogues with Christians.

Tamano is the former Education Secretary in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and a Chancellor of the Mindanao State University (MSU), it was learned.

Bishop Hilario M. Gomez Jr. Bishop-Emeritus, National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), also told the Manila Bulletin that Tamano is the right person for the said office since he has impressive credentials, and moral and spiritual value.

“I had the opportunity and privilege to clearly know and observe his participation in peace activities and his wise insights as a member of our Tripartite Commission, the government will be assured of an excellent and effective implementation of his new office and a successful pursuance of its objectives,” Gomez said.

The NCMF was created through Republic Act (RA) 9997 which was recently signed into law by President Arroyo that replaced the Office for Muslim Affairs (OMA).