Will this happen again in the future? Might be after 5 years, 10 years or more depending on the kind of events that would be happening and resolution of crimes committed in the campus.
Unsolved crimes embolden criminals to commit more.
Considering the target of the bombing, that act has religious undertone. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has both political and religious undertones its factor in the bombing incident can not be downplayed.
Though that conflict is thousand of miles away university authorities should have undertaken precautionary measures such as leveling up the security around and within the campus and suspension of all forms of gathering. Heads of organizations should have considered this factor and discourage gathering. Crowded places are attractive to terrorists or to any persons or group who love to create chaos and sow fear through terroristic acts.
If the report is true that out of the student population of 11000 only around 700 went back to their home places. So a huge percentage of students chose to remain in the campus and decided to stake their lives just so they can finish their studies. For them education is gateway to a better life for which I agree. And this is what I did.
While studying in MSU I experienced and witnessed similar incidents. During my 3rd year as an engineering student grenades were lobbed during a concert night held at the old gym located just a stone throw away from the Rajah Indarapatra Hall the boys’ dorm where I stayed.
Lucky for me for I prioritized my academic work than attending the concert in that fateful night. During our Math 81 class held at the Pre-Fab building the PNB branch located at the old SSB building was robbed by armed men. Gunshots were fired around the vicinity. All of us including our math professor Sister Nasol dropped and crawled on the dirt floor of our classroom that has not undergone janitorial cleaning. Never mind the dirt of dust and rat wastes as long as we rose up standing and still breathing after that incident. In spite of all these I persevered and finished my engineering course.
I stayed 15 years in MSU, 5 years as a student and 10 years as an engineering faculty member. In all these times the danger level in the MSU campus has continuously risen and up to the level which I could no longer take when undeserving students were visiting me at night and knocking at the cottage where I was staying. I decided to pack up and leave MSU for good before my luck runs out.
Then last Sunday while attending mass, many of the attendees mostly students their luck ran out. What a great loss especially to the students whose only crime was to study in MSU, finish a degree and start a new life they were dreaming of.
My sympathy and condolences to the family of the victims.
Hoping that the concerned authorities will not leave any stone unturned in their investigation to catch whoever did that dastardly act, bring the criminals before the court of law and give justice to the victims. This to ensure that this kind of incident will not happen again.
Engr Will
Iligan City
December 6, 2023
Comments
Post a Comment