By Joshua Corcuera
On August 24, twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu killed at least 13 people and hurt at least 76 others. Obviously, the attack is devastating and it is important to pay respects to those directly affected as well as the relatives they left behind. Also, the attack must be strongly condemned while perpetrators must be caught and be held into account in accordance with the rule of law, so that justice can be served to the victims.
Besides this, however, it is essential to look at the bigger picture as well, particularly on how society deals with terrorist acts and whether our response in eradicating terrorism has been effective. This is especially true given the fact that the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act has been signed into law and is already being implemented by authorities.
In spite of draconian measures such as the Human Security Act of 2007 which was superseded by the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as well as increased support and budget on intelligence — devastating bombings still occur in some parts of the country. Definitely, terrorism and conflict are not ideal for society as it threatens security and order. Aside from this, the economy is affected negatively as people avoid participating in economic activities as they fear for their safety and their lives. And up to now, such problems continue to affect the Philippines particularly in the south of the country. Even before the twin explosion in Sulu, one can see the devastation brought by terrorism and conflict in Marawi — a city still struggling to recover up to now from the chaos of 2017.
As serious crimes continue to plague society, it is imperative to get rid of terrorism and other heinous crimes; after all, we long to live in a peaceful and orderly society. Moreover, security of the individual is a basic human right and the protection of individuals is, accordingly, a fundamental obligation of the government according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. At the same time, however, authorities must ensure that strong safeguards are in place to protect and preserve human rights and preclude abuse of power.
But based on the actions by the powers that be in the Philippines, they seem to fail, or at least lack, in implementing an effective anti-terrorism measure which balances human rights and security. In fact, the recent Anti-Terror Law is controversial for its vague and broad definition of terrorism which can actually silence critics and dissidents, instead of real terrorists. And recent events would attest to this claim as two activists — Echanis and Alvarez — were killed, while twin explosions rocked Sulu killing at least a dozen of people.
It is worthy to take note that a government which is felt and well-perceived by the masses would discourage people in resorting to illegal acts such as terrorism. Part of the reason why people become terrorists is that their grievances are not heard by those in power. Of course, we should not commit violations against the law if we are aggrieved since there are ways to achieve justice. But there are still some people — especially in the forgotten corners of society — who do not have any other choice but make noise to have their demands heard regardless of the means.
More importantly, providing formal education to all citizens is a must so that they can achieve a better life for themselves without engaging in rebellion. Altogether, it is important for those who calibrate anti-terrorism measures to listen to experts and impartial academicians in dealing with terrorism, as well as those who can be unnecessarily aggrieved by such measures such as human rights groups and activists.
