When threat is imminent

With the spate of bombing incidents in Mindanao for the past three weeks, we come to draw a conclusion: Terrorism threat is imminent. We didn’t fail to see these events as they unfold. Is it not that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has sensed the danger under his nose that he has to call it off for this year’s Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival? However, it is the mayor’s forte beyond question to see what’s fit. Anyway, this is not the first time our mayor is facing the threats of these demons in terrorism. To forego the merriment of a festival would rather be acceptable than putting in harms way hundreds of innocent lives on the streets. Nobody would want the festival’s vibrance and color be replaced with anguish and mourning; with the cheers and rapid beats of drums, for a dirge.

Just as the recent Cotabato blast that killed scores of people days after the big explosions that rocked Cagayan de Oro, big cities in Mindanao were shortly alerted. Roving security forces of our government did the rounds 24/7 to ensure the supression of criminal designs not to push through. But again, terrorists were just so stubborn and clever to sneak a powerful explosive device that wrecked Lintukan Bridge at the border of Datu Piang and Datu Salibo in Maguindanao which marked as the fifth bombing incident in Mindanao in just a matter of 12 days. The President during the 2nd Mindanao Business Conference was clearly unfazed about these bombings. In fact, it’s as if he was ready to verbalize his satisfaction ratings over Davao’s security measures. In an interview, the President was confident Kadayawan will push through referring to the style and experience of Mayor Duterte about security matters. But wait, P-Noy might have forgotten the too worn-out cliché under our Fundamental law about “protecting” our people, checklisted to be his first duty.

To protect the people does not necessarily mean sending in more troops. Fighting fire with fire may not always be the style and craft that could frighten the bandits. One just have to add more senses to the horrifying stories and how terrorists were so successful in their objectives. They might have hurdled the first base of their plan and succeed in toppling down vital utilities or killed innocent lives to send their message. Their treacherous acts were like ten or twenty steps ahead from those of our law enforcers. Part of their creed is to keep their entry and presence unnoticed. They are not afraid to die. They must be well-financed and their network goes beyond borders. Let alone the influences these terrorists gave to the youth, like pangs ready to sow terror anytime. Who would have thought that the Boston Marathon perpetrators were only motivated by extremist Islamic belief, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? And that, based from various news sources, they were “self-radicalized and unconnected to any outside terrorist groups”?

When Davao City was included in the watchlists for these more organized terror attacks, neither from the government nor from the private sector can afford to be complacent about security. But it does not mean our government is lowering our flag. It is putting to right perspective how people can be truly secured while the terrorists cannot carry out their plan. There lies a great danger when our authorities are facing against a blank wall, with no definite target. But even if terrorists get our enforcers flat-footed for lack of significant info, ordinary citizens can help our government. This is now the time to show our nationalism and patriotism to honor our flag and the authorities. We can somehow create a band of brothers, based from a purely citizen’s action to provide significant information to our authorities of any suspicious persons and activities in our respective communities. Through this noble act, we will no longer be facing an unknown target. Let’s end terrorism, right here in our city.