Killings alarm youth, may cause paranoia
The series of unresolved killings in Metro Cebu has alarmed the youth and made them feel unsafe.
Joyce Agot, 19, chairperson of the Supreme Student Council League of Presidents, said the killings that happen almost every day is not making Cebu safe and these violent events only show that due process has been ignored while investigations fail to provide transparency.
Agot and other hundreds of youth leaders from various organizations gathered yesterday for the provincewide event that celebrates the International Youth Day wherein the theme focuses on “safe spaces” for the youth.
“We don't know what really happened? What is behind the incident? Who are accountable to these killings? I don't get it how these things are resulting to such. And it is not benefitting anyone,” she told The FREEMAN in an interview on the sidelines during the event held at Cebu Grand Hotel in Cebu City.
The one-day activity was spearheaded by the National Youth Commission, which joins the global celebration of International Youth Day and the national observance of “Linggo ng Kabataan.”
For Agot, these series of killings alarm her.
“People are just being shot even in places they thought they are safe like in their homes. That is why you are also not assured of your safety wherever you are going,” she said.
She understood that these killings involve politics and lamented over the clash between local officials and the authorities.
“Are they really there to serve the people? The purpose to serve has been defeated … People are not abiding the law already while some only want political gain. We need transparency, bring criminals to justice without political biases,” said Agot.
Rhea Peñaflor, NYC commissioner for the Visayas, said authorities should investigate those government forces that are implicated in the killings.
Though there are laws that provide safety and protection for the youth, she said law enforcers should ensure that peace and order is maintained in the community.
Peñaflor also urged the youth to be active in meaningful participation by expressing their opinions over issues and concerns in the society such as the rampant killings here.
“Their voices should be heard. They can organize peaceful assemblies with SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) officials and discuss on how to formulate measures or policies that will address these concerns,” she said.
Peñaflor said local officials should provide platform for the youth that will ensure safe places for them while authorities should maintain their mandate in keeping a peaceful and orderly community.
Meanwhile, Cebu-based psychologist explains that the spate of killings in Metro Cebu may create paranoia, panic and neurotic fear among people. Dr. Anna Kathrina Oaminal-Watin said that these bloody events affect everyone, but its effect or the degree of the effects may differ for every person either immediate or would be affecting later.
“The human brain stores all information. Whatever we see and hear is all recorded in our brain and these are not erased. These experiences and memories are associated with powerful and intense negative emotions of anger, fear, sadness and anxiety. Negative emotions especially when piled up create psychological distress,” she elaborated. And these events result to paranoia and panic and in other cases, may result to neurotic fear, she added.
“After being subjected to the news about killings especially when these crimes occurred in places of proximity to one's home, school, and work, one may develop fears without basis,” said Watin.
She said safety and security is a basic need of a human being and when one's basic need is not met, it creates distress and impairment to a person.
“To live in a place where we find comfort, a place to live where we feel safe and secure is similar to our needs of eating, sleeping and the like. These are basic needs,” she said.
That is why Watin recommended to authorities or local officials to solve these bloody crimes and that peace and order should be restored the soonest possible.
“You see a lot of people speculate and share their theories and interpretation. When shared in social media, it gets across to a very wide population. That's why authorities need to solve these crimes the soonest,” she said.
“People need to have trust to their government officials and police. When people see that their police and government officials are trustworthy, it creates a sense of relief and hope,” she said further.
MBG