THIS year’s Sinulog festivities will once again feature a security SOP, the shutdown of cellular phone signals during the solemn procession on Saturday, Jan. 19 and during the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, Jan. 20. Those activities are traditional crowd drawers and could be magnets for terrorist attacks.
But it’s a tricky proposition because while signal shutdowns can prevent the use by terrorists of cellphone signals to trigger bombs, communication is also an important component of maintaining security and addressing emergencies. And as Cebu City Police Chief Royina Garma admitted, the lack of communication could disrupt business activities. And the disruption won’t be Cebu City-specific.
“When you shut down (the signal of cellular phones) dito sa Cebu, affected din naman ang Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Bohol satellites. So ito yung mga bagay na-consider natin. It’s going to be the whole island of Cebu, including some parts of Bohol maapektuhan sa shutdown,” she said.
But it’s not that this is the first time that the said precautionary measure has been implemented. So the people should already know how to deal with it, or to even go around it. The signal shutdown also affects some automated teller machines. The Sinulog Foundation Inc. for its part would be using hand-held radios for communication, although the hope is that the number of hand-held radios would be enough to address sudden emergencies that break out.
Sadly, it may not only be the law-abiding citizens who will adjust but so too the terrorists. Indeed, the remote-controlled improvised explosive device is the kind of bomb preferred by terrorists nowadays, but the worry is that they would tinker with the process to go around the limitations provided by the lack of cellular phone signal.
Consider, for example, that it’s not only the cell phone that emits signals. Remote controlled toys do and so too electronic devices that lock or open doors. Cell phones also have a vibrating function that may not be solely triggered by calls. Cell phones have built-in alarm clocks.
What we are saying is that signal shutdown should be considered as only one aspect of security preparation. There are other aspects, like good old people’s vigilance. We all should be on the lookout for every security threat and report this to authorities. Timely intervention can save lives.