Senator JV Ejercito on Thursday rejected the claim of a Turkish ambassador that a non-government organization, which runs an international school based in San Juan Ciy, has links to terrorism.
He said that the NGO—the Integrative Center for Alternative Development Foundation Inc. and its Fountain International School in San Juan have proven to be steady partners of the city’s educational and socio-civic programs.
“In my experience, the school here in San Juan is run well. They are also cooperative with the community,” said Ejercito, a former San Juan City mayor.
Ejercito joined religious organizations and the San Juan City government in expressing support to the NGO and the school.
The senator's mother, incumbent San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, also issued a statement in support of the Filipino-Turkish NGO.
“It is but worthy to extend our gratitude and support to the ICAD and Fountain International School with its hardworking officials, faculty and staff,” said Mayor Gomez.
Gomez noted that the San Juan government had partnered with the two institutions “on countless programs” to benefit the people of San Juan, including scholarships and tie-ups with the city-funded Polytechnic University of the Philippines—San Juan and outreach projects for the less privileged sector.
Ejercito and his mother issued the statements following support aired by religious officials in San Juan for ICAD and its sister NGO —the Pacific Dialogue Foundation Inc. (PDF), which runs the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga City.
The statements were issued by representatives from major Catholic and Muslim religious groups including the Catholic Bishops Council of the Philippines and the Imam Council of the Philippines.
Former Education Secretary and La Salle University President Brother Armin Luistro debunked the allegation made by Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur that the two NGOs and their schools had terrorist links.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año told Malacanang reporters Tuesday night that the AFP did not consider the NGOs as terrorist organizations, as he expressed belief that the Ambassador’s accusation was due to internal politics in Turkey.
Bro. Armin said: “I have never had any doubt that both ICAD and PDF are legitimate foundations that share our Filipino values of peace through education and a deep respect for our common humanity despite differences in cultures, beliefs and traditions.
He said both ICAD and PDF have been working quietly in their own way “to build such an environment through their educational programs here in the Philippines.”
“I have never had any reason to link their operations here with alleged terror groups locally as this would seem totally in conflict with their on-going advocacies and programs on peace-building,” said Bro. Armin.
