Citizens’ role in keeping peace and order

How cruel has the terrorist Abu Sayyaf  Group (ASG) become!  The attack on a budget pension house packed with wedding guests was meant not only to injure but also to kill innocent people.  And what could have been a happy occasion has turned into days of mourning for the victims and their families.

What would the Abu Sayyaf gain from killing innocent people who have nothing to do with its cause?  ASG’s crimes against the people are mounting and we can expect that the group is just waiting for an opportunity to launch the next assault, which the authorities are duty-bound to prevent.

Of course, all concerned government officials and agencies must keep themselves alert to prevent a repeat of the incident.  However we must bear in mind that as citizens, we have as much responsibility to be vigilant in order to prevent anything like this from happening again.  Let us remember that peace and order and security are everybody’s concern and responsibility.

I wonder what is in the minds of these terrorists whenever they carry out their attacks.

Obviously, they have lost all reason, for no human being in his right mind will kill and hurt people, as what happened at pension house.

The attackers must pay for their crime for they have not only killed people but have also cut short the dreams and the future of those whom they killed.  It is also so sad for the wedding couple, who may feel responsible, directly or indirectly, for the death of their guests or relatives.

The ASG should be condemned to the full.

—ROSS B. FULGENCIO JR., [email protected]