FOLLOWING the two bombing attacks at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu, the Archdiocese of Davao and the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) released an advisory prohibiting the bringing in of backpacks, knapsacks, cartons, boxes, and other similar items inside the church premises.
The first Sunday following the release of this advisory, many Catholic churchgoers in Davao City were not allowed entrance to the church as they had shoulder bags and backpacks with them. This devastated the churchgoers who initially thought that only backpacks were prohibited.
Particularly in the Redemptorist Church in J.P. Laurel Avenue, security forces were stationed near the gate for inspection while one of them was holding a printed advisory. There was also tarpaulin poster tied at the gate of the church.
A woman carrying a shoulder bag complained that it was unfair as her family is already inside the church while she would be left outside. She further said that her only purpose of coming is to hear Mass and nothing more.
In San Pedro Church, the Catholic churchgoers were not stopped from hearing the Mass and were seen staying outside the gate and participating in the Mass until it ended. Somehow, through this alone we can see the dedication to hear the Gospel of these churchgoers. No advisory would stop them from their Sunday service.
But last Wednesday, February 6, this dedication was somehow put to the test as the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) announced a 10-meter distance that should be observed from the church gates. This new advisory, in a way, emphasizes the need to only bring very small purses or none at all to be allowed entrance.
The security forces of the city may be putting the safety and the security of Davao City as the top priority. With the bombing attacks in Jolo, Sulu, there is indeed a call for precautionary measures that need to be observed and implemented with utmost obedience so we could be assured that terrorist attacks will not happen in the city.
But how far are we willing to go and sacrifice for the sake of security? Does it need to exclude churchgoers from their usual Sunday service? For Catholics, or perhaps any other religion, Filipinos were raised with the belief that the church welcomes anyone – whether you are a sinner or even a non-believer. The church should first and foremost be the most welcoming structure.
This concern may just be silenced by finally following the advisory of the security forces – to not bring anything to church. If bringing a bag is unavoidable, then maybe we are advised to not be anywhere near the church at all. But is the security threat limited only to Catholic churches or any church per se? What kind of terrorist would only pick a specific structure to threat or to bomb?
The answer to a possible safety threat lies not on excluding churchgoers from hearing Sunday Mass or prohibiting them to bringing items they might actually need. If we want real protection, increased measures should be done in all public areas vulnerable to attacks such as public markets, terminals, and ports among others. As this also avoids any notion of discrimination, it also allows a wider and better spread of security for the public and for the city.