By Olivia Louise Infante

On Sunday morning, December 3, a lethal explosion bashed through the premises of Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi, during a Catholic mass. Another tragedy has yet again struck the city of over 200,000 in the Autonomous Region of Mindanao, begging the question on whether an olive branch could ever be extended between the Islamic militants and the Philippine government forces.

This long standing battle for religious separatism roots way back—encompassed by a series of unfortunate, propagandist events and linkage to foreign mainspring. 

Bombarding of Mindanao State University

White monoblocks strewed about the gymnasium floor; burn marks smeared all over the center; and civilians were getting carried out of the building in need of medical attention. 

The attack wounded dozens and killed four people. These included three women and 50 others that were given medical assistance for injuries. Many of those who attended were students of the university. This led the university to call for suspension, effective immediately, until further notice. 

It was an alarming act of violence that disrupted a religious event–the First Sunday of the Advent season. 

Days Before the Bombing 

Suspicions that arose inoculated Islamic militant group Dawlah Islamiyah as those behind the bombing incident. It was speculated by authorities that the group brought such violence in response to the demise of its members and linked these Islamic militant groups to a foreign mainspring—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

On Friday, December 1, air and ground offensives broke through during noontime as 11 suspected members of the group were killed. 

Soldiers found at least 10 high-powered firearms and explosives on the bodies during cleaning operations the following morning on December 2. 

Safe Spaces in Schools?

It is no obscure fact that many parts of the world, especially in countries like the USA, have had deaths on the grounds of the nation’s schools. It becomes an alarming notice when students who are supposed to learn about cultural peace and reformation in the place need to be taught several ways to protect oneself in the occurrence of a bombing or even shooting.

The impact such incidents can have on students outweighs the grounds for bombing by tenfold. It makes even a threat that is empty turn into a serious matter. Despite the fact that 90 percent of bomb threats in schools turn out to be a hoax, they must all be taken gravely and with the appropriate measures. 

There must come a point wherein terrorist attacks on these educational institutions are to be condemned. Beyond that, an attack on innocent civilians, no matter the demographic, must not come to be in the first place. We are all born to a life with rights—not a life in the hands of terrorists. 

After The Bombing

Speculations were confirmed as reports from December 4 state that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the explosion. SITE Intelligence Group, according to CNN Philippines, admitted that it was ISIS’ soldiers that “detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of Christian disbelievers in Marawi City,” that Sunday.

This counterterrorism threat conveys a lack of remorse towards the bodies that met its ending and felt the pain. Pitiful are the families, the ones that never anticipated that a practice of belief would set their kin up for danger—or that one’s faith would play a role in such brutality. 

An Attempt at Peace 

The Philippines has always been a pre-dominantly Catholic country. However, the country has sought efforts to establish internal diplomacy within the archipelago of different believers.

In an attempt to ease decades worth of fighting and separatist rebellion, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace treaty with the government in 2014. However, an armed group denied both parties of peace and pushed through with a series of bombings and other violent attacks.

The breakdown of this attempt at peace was forecasted as such insurgence to bring about disillusionment and large-scale sieges. 

Besieging of Marawi 

Unmistakably, it was in 2017 when the militants brought extrajudicial killings and laid siege to Marawi. This was when civilians were forced to be trapped between crossfires and were forced to become hostages. 

The battle for Marawi that transpired lasted for five months, massively displacing civilians of the area and destroying its infrastructure. It was reported that 920 militants, 165 soldiers and 47 civilians were killed. 

Ever since, fellow Filipinos continue to fight for peace, and the recent events that have occurred call us to continue this fight for them. No Filipino should be left behind to fear for their lives each day, with undeserving inquisitions on whether a tomorrow is to greet them or not.