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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