An Exploratory Study On The Perception Of The Muslims In Selected Barangays Of Cagayan De Oro City

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE PERCEPTION OF THE MUSLIMS IN SELECTED BARANGAYS OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY ON THE ISUE OF TERRORISM

A Thesis Presented to the

Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences,

Liceo de Cagayan University

In Partial Fulfilment for the Degree in

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

By:

NAJER, IMAN I.

VALDEVIESO, DEEJAY S.

WOOTON, CARYLL KAY A.

February 2008

Table of Contents

I. TITLE

II. RESEARCHERS

III. INTRODUCTION

IV. FRAMEWORK

V. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

VI. LITERATURE REVIEW

VII. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

- RESEARCH DESIGN

- RESEARCH AREA

- DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

- DATA ANALYSIS

VIII. REFERENCES

I. TITLE:

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE PERCEPTION OF THE MUSLIMS IN SELECTED BARANGAYS OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY ON THE ISUE OF TERRORISM

II. RESEARCHERS:

Iman I. Najer - AB - International Studies 4

Deejay S. Valdevieso - AB - International Studies 4

Caryll Kay A. Wooton - AB - International Studies 4

III. INTRODUCTION

It is very important for all of us, including the public to have a clear understanding of what terrorism is and how it works. This study will help us understand a clear view of terrorism, to distinguish terrorism from an ordinary criminal act, and to gain information and opinionated views among Muslims in Cagayan de Oro City on the issues of terrorism. A correct appreciation of the problem will greatly help us deal with the situation more effectively.

In examining the nature of terrorism we are dealing with a multi-dimensional problem. Discussion is centered mostly on the criminal justice aspects; prevention and punishment. The overriding questions are not technological or legal; they are philosophical and political.

Terrorists usually employ the weapon of fear in a complicated sort of way. By sowing fear, they can paralyze the will, befuddle the mind and exhaust the strength of an adversary. Political considerations form the framework in which the activity of those engaged in terrorism is interpreted. We usually hear people say "A man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". Simply stated, terrorism can be held to revolve around one's political point of view and this is the major impediment standing in the path of a universally acceptable definition of the term.

Terrorist violence is aimed not so much on the target upon when the initial act is committed but too much wider audience who will view and interpret the act the success of terrorism is due in large part to the miscomprehension of the strategy by its opponents, which is, failure to focus on the critical issue of how to respond of terrorism, paramount is the rule of law and a respect for human rights. One possible purpose of a terrorist act is to create strife among the various sectors in a society. If we fail to understand its nature, possibility is high that we will make our fears very much greater than the actual threat.

This study is about the issue of terrorism. This is to know the views and understanding among Muslims in Cagayan de Oro City about terrorism. We also want to explore their concerns and perspective among those Muslims and Muslim organizations who engaged in violence or acts of terrorism in the country and abroad. This study also aims to enlighten the minds of those people who allegedly judge that all Muslims are terrorists. Furthermore, this study will greatly help on delivering a better understanding on terrorism and recognizes the role and importance of the Muslims opinions and views regarding the issue.

IV. FRAMEWORK

The research problem of this study is the perception/views of the Muslims on terrorism as to how their community is linked to terrorism in the Philippines. Terrorism has become the biggest threat to the country's national security, because of the continuous and unending threats of bombings, kidnappings and acts of violence against the government and civilians. In this study, we will use the definition of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005 of the Philippines. The Section 3 of the Act defines terrorism "as the premeditated, threatened, actual use of violence, force, or by any other means of destruction perpetrated against person/s, property/ies, or the environment, with the intention of creating or sowing a slate of danger, panic, fear, or chaos to the general public, group of persons or particular person, or of coercing or intimidating the government to do or abstain from doing an act". This study identifies 5 main factors surrounding the issue of terrorism in the Philippines are as follows: First, the labelled terrorists groups in the country such as the Moro International Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group's (ASG) violent acts towards the government and civilians. Second, what are the reasons behind the terrorist acts of these labelled terrorist organizations? Third, does Islam in the Philippines condones or does not condone terrorism, fourth, do Muslims support these terrorist acts committed by these labelled Muslim terrorist groups and fifth, what are the effects to the Muslims on alleging Muslims as terrorists.

In this study, we preferred to use the term "radicals" on the issue of these labeled Muslim terrorist groups in the Philippines. When we say "radical" or radicalism it is a term used to label to those individuals,