Helping refugees

With reports that many Marawi City residents are now fleeing to other areas, including Cebu, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city government is willing to extend whatever assistance to refugees seeking sanctuary in the city.

This is another act of kindness from the city government, which has been, for decades, giving assistance to other areas ravaged by natural calamities. In February, it extended assistance to earthquake-ravaged Surigao City.

Of course, there's really a need to help those victims in the ongoing conflict in Marawi City and in nearby areas. Some of them even had no time to pack, fleeing hurriedly to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

However, as Cebuanos are opening their arms to refugees, local authorities should also heighten their surveillance against terrorists who might want to slip into Cebu pretending to be victims of the ongoing conflict.

Many of these terrorists are now on the run, escaping intensified military operations in Mindanao. And there is a huge possibility that some of them would opt to join the fleeing civilians to evade the manhunt.

At the height of the conflict in the Middle East, hundreds of thousands fled to Europe. These refugees had to risk their lives hiking vast deserts and crossing the sea to escape the war that has been tearing their families apart.

But the mass exodus also gave terrorists the golden opportunity to sneak into Europe. It has been reported that many members and sympathizers of the Islamic State and other terrorist groups have penetrated the northern continent disguised as refugees.

We don't want this scenario to happen here. But since there is a high chance that it will happen, we have to be prepared for any eventuality. While it is the duty of the Cebuanos to help those refugees start a new life, away from the conflict in Mindanao, authorities should also exhaust all their resources to ensure that no terrorists will find their way to Cebu.