EDITORIAL - Small price to pay for security

As this was written, it was being deliberated whether or not to temporarily shut off telecommunications signals in Cebu as a safety precaution against possible remotely-detonated explosions aimed at disrupting the feast of the Santo Niño and the Sinulog. The precautionary move will come at a cost, hence the debates. For one, it will mean the temporary inability, for at least two days, to use gadgets and equipment that rely on telecommunications signals.

The other side of the coin, i.e. not tampering with the signals at all, is to leave the twin activities wide open to possible terrorist acts. The word possible needs to be stressed because to date there has been no credible indication that such a disruption can actually take place. The only argument for such a precautionary measure to be undertaken, which incidentally is a very strong argument, is that we no longer live in normal times.

There is almost no place in the world as we know it today that can be certified as absolutely free from any potential terror threat. One can actually count with the fingers such rare places. Everywhere else is a likely target, especially when there are large gatherings of people present. And when one considers the size of the crowds that come for the feast of the Santo Nino and the Sinulog, one can only shudder at the possibilities.

To say that God will take care of everything may be a matter of faith. But it is also plain bravado that should have no place in the real world. It might be worth remembering that before 9/11, it was Pope John Paul II that was in the cross-hairs of terrorists. That an attack on the pope never happened may very well be the handiwork of God. Nevertheless, that such an attack was actually being considered is a cold hard fact that cannot be ignored.

Nobody wishes something bad to happen on the feast of the Santo Niño or during the Sinulog and their related activities. In fact, nobody wishes anything bad to happen ever again to people anywhere on this planet. But the reality is that even now as you are reading this, someone somewhere could be plotting something evil and sinister and we can only hope his plot is discovered and disrupted.

This is the reality we have to live with everyday. And just because we want everything to proceed uneventfully doesn't mean we can just throw caution to the wind. We still need to be on guard, no more than ever. And if it takes for everyone to make a little sacrifice for their own safety, such as giving up at least two days without telecommunications signals, then that may be too small a price to pay.

But just because shutting down telecommunications signals has become such a big issue, it doesn't mean that that is the only issue there is. There are still a good number of threats to be considered other than just remotely-activated explosive devices. All these potential threats need to be addressed and plugged. And the government cannot do it alone. Everyone needs to be alert. Everybody has to be his own security officer, fully alert and aware of his environment and surroundings.