By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

GUAM officials acknowledged that Guam is a potential target for terrorism. And while giving assurance that agencies have contingency measures in place, officials said every member of the community is a stakeholder and thus must do his own part by being aware of the threat and being on guard.
“The ultimate goal of terrorism is not to kill as many people as they can. The terrorists’ ultimate goal is to scare as many people as they can,” former Homeland Security adviser Sen. Frank Blas Jr., R-Barrigada, said at the forum billed “Terrorist Target: Guam,” hosted Saturday by the University of Guam’s School of Business and Public Administration.
“All the efforts that we make won’t mean anything if the community doesn’t understand terrorism,” Blas said.
He said Guam is a potential magnet for terrorism, not only because it is a United States territory but also because it is the most populated island in the Pacific and is closest to the terrorist hotspots in the region, including China and North Korea.
“This is why Guam receives a lot of attention and funding from Washington, D.C.,” Blas said.
However, he said, the $18 million that Guam stands to receive for military expansion is equivalent to $2.75 per citizen. “But considering the threats that we are facing, we’re worth more than that price tag,” Blas said.
Homeland Security Civil Defense director Charles Ada agreed that the money earmarked for Guam is not enough to ensure the community’s protection considering the loose border control.
Ada urged all organizations “to reach out and spread these concerns.”
A number of local and federal experts on terrorism and emergency response spoke at the forum which, however, was sparsely attended. Most of the people in the audience were members of the activist group Nasion Chamorro.
During an open forum, activist Debbie Quinata commented that the Guam National Guard may not be available to protect Guam from potential terrorist attacks because “our National Guard members are deployed in Iraq.”
Guam Police chief Capt. Paul Suva said no place or government can be fully ready to deal with terrorism. Terrorists, he said, scheme their plots and stage their attacks in a manner beyond one’s imagination.
“How can we be fully ready against enemies who don’t follow the rules of engagement?” he asked.
Nevertheless, he said GPD, though understaffed, has gone through a series of anti-terrorism training programs that may help in the preparation plan. “Our training can be tested when we are in an actual situation,” Suva said.
In the past, he said, GPD has proven its skills and ability to respond to emergency situations. “Yes, we are ready. But are you, the citizens, ready?” Suva asked.
Pete Lizama, head of the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting division, said airport personnel are constantly trained in spotting potential terrorists.
However, he acknowledged that detecting potential threats can be a tough task.
“Some terrorists look just like the rest of us,” Lizama said. “We can never be too prepared. But the public must be informed and aware of these threats.”