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Saturday, November 25, 2017

Editorial

Vigilance vs. terror threats

Television footages of the main battle area in Marawi City is a telltale of ruins after bombardments here and there following the siege by ISIS-inspired militants.  And this could happen to any city in Mindanao if terror threat is not contained. Lately, President Duterte said the ISIS or terror threat is here to stay as it niches globally.

Cotabato City is not safe or spared from such threat. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said: We’re looking now at the possibility that the next will be Cotabato City.” His statement was published online by InterAksyon.com. This indeed serves as a warning to us folks in Cotabato City or to any city if we stand off-guard. Why “the next” Marawi? Lt. Gen. Galvez mentioned the frustration and hopelessness over the (unacted) proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as one of the issues and selling point for the militant groups or extremists to incite armed uprising.

The re-enated BBL is still pending in Congress, which the proponents in the Bangsamoro homeland believes could check terrorism because of the mechanisms that could bring lasting peace and development to the settlers therein. The realization of this hope stands in the balance.

For now, we don’t want our dear Cotabato City to be “the next” Marawi… we cannot take the threat for granted by just relying on our security forces to repel or squash terrorism for surely there will be collateral damage. A public address system is roving around our villages to take vigilance against suspicious movements and have these reported immediately to the authorities. Suspicious packages have also to be reported for these could be bomb threats.

Our military and police authorities are contemplating on conducting a simulated  drill on terror threat to see how the different sectors react on any eventuality. Urban warfare defense has to be an inclusion in disaster preparedness and response program. Like earthquakes, we do not know when terror attacks would ignite and where it’s target would be. But we could only become intelligence multiplier(s) to prevent or check the terror onslaught.

We have to be part of the security watch if we mean holding on our dear lives and security of our homes. Vigilance is at best if we cooperate with one another to stop terror threat. Let not our homes and service centers be shambled. Your vigilance is the shield and offense against threat to peace. Remorse, remember, comes at the tail when it’s too late to prevent the carnage. “Remember the ruins of Marawi… let it not be.”
       


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