Vigilance
Vigilance
Posted 11:38pm (Mla time) Mar 22, 2005
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the March 23, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez was being true to character when he blithely told the media that a potential terrorist threat to Baguio City had been "mentioned" at a Cabinet meeting, while saying in the same breath he hoped this didn't lead to assumptions of the government being "paranoid." Philippine National Police Director General Arturo Lomibao tried to be more specific, saying on national radio: "This morning, we would like to say that we have confirmed the revelation of Boy Negro ... Upon interrogation, he said four or five Abu Sayyaf members and one Indonesian JI [Jamaah Islamiyah] have been sent to Metro Manila in the past few days." Lomibao explained that Gamal Baharan (alias "Boy Negro") confessed to the police that at least five Abu Sayyaf members had been given the mission to plant explosives in shopping malls in Metro Manila. "Their plan is to conduct bombings in Metro Manila ... Their target is to put [explosives] in the dry goods section, like clothes, which would easily burn."
State prosecutor Philip Medalle chimed in by saying a person knowledgeable about the Abu Sayyaf's operations advised him to be careful when going to Catholic churches. "If you go to church, don't sit on the last rows or on the side of the pews. Better sit in the middle," he advised helpfully.
The statements made by Gonzalez, Lomibao and Medalle followed a similar threat issued by the spokesman of the Abu Sayyaf. According to Abu Sulayman, the Abu Sayyaf would "bring the war to Manila" in retaliation for the assault mounted by the police in Camp Bagong Diwa. And it is because of the Abu Sayyaf's own statement, perhaps, that tough questions aren't being asked of the three officials.
First of all, although every member of the press finds it most convenient that officials like Gonzalez exist, Cabinet members leaking like sieves is not conducive to forming a calm and sober picture of the security situation. Lomibao, too, failed to explain just how the alleged confession was extracted during "tactical interrogation," since it is public knowledge that such interrogations have involved torture in the past, and confessions extracted from beatings can be unreliable since they tend to reveal what the interrogators want to hear. Finally, Medalle may be trying to help, but are anonymous phone calls giving such specific information really meant to be passed on to the general public?
Whether the Abu Sayyaf hopes to sow terror during the Holy Week by bombing Catholic churches or shopping malls, it's clear that the times call for heightened vigilance among the populace. The PNP has achieved solid and credible gains in arresting terror suspects in the past, through the help of civic-minded individuals. It's been joked about that Filipinos are such notorious gossips and so terribly inquisitive, that they serve as an early-warning system for the police. What is true is that concerned neighborhoods are the bulwark of public safety, and that local communities can have a big hand in securing their own safety. Not only from terrorists, but also from the bad habits of our military and police.
There are thousands of policemen on the front line, so to speak, during Holy Week. They deserve the full support of the public. We cannot leave things in their hands, however. Every person who decides to travel can help make the job of the police easier by being patient when long lines form, and by doing what they can to facilitate inspection. Keeping a sharp eye out for anything that may be amiss doesn't mean panic needs to set in when something appears troublesome. Remember, sowing fear in people's hearts is the primary objective of all terrorists.
Victimized
IT'S unfair, of course, to criticize Manny Pacquiao for hitting the blackjack tables in Las Vegas, but in case anyone wants to do so, remember he was only following the example of government leaders. Millions of Filipinos were content to endure the miserable coverage of his fight on their TV sets, but apparently for our congressmen, television isn't exciting enough. At a time of soaring deficits, a spectacular number of congressmen trekked to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao in person.
One congressman went as far as to justify his junket, saying it was merely a pit stop on the way to "consulting" with Filipinos overseas. One or two congressmen might have gotten away with such an excuse, but as there were nearly enough congressmen in Las Vegas to constitute a quorum in the House of Representatives, the justification fails to convince.
Posted 11:38pm (Mla time) Mar 22, 2005
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the March 23, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez was being true to character when he blithely told the media that a potential terrorist threat to Baguio City had been "mentioned" at a Cabinet meeting, while saying in the same breath he hoped this didn't lead to assumptions of the government being "paranoid." Philippine National Police Director General Arturo Lomibao tried to be more specific, saying on national radio: "This morning, we would like to say that we have confirmed the revelation of Boy Negro ... Upon interrogation, he said four or five Abu Sayyaf members and one Indonesian JI [Jamaah Islamiyah] have been sent to Metro Manila in the past few days." Lomibao explained that Gamal Baharan (alias "Boy Negro") confessed to the police that at least five Abu Sayyaf members had been given the mission to plant explosives in shopping malls in Metro Manila. "Their plan is to conduct bombings in Metro Manila ... Their target is to put [explosives] in the dry goods section, like clothes, which would easily burn."
State prosecutor Philip Medalle chimed in by saying a person knowledgeable about the Abu Sayyaf's operations advised him to be careful when going to Catholic churches. "If you go to church, don't sit on the last rows or on the side of the pews. Better sit in the middle," he advised helpfully.
The statements made by Gonzalez, Lomibao and Medalle followed a similar threat issued by the spokesman of the Abu Sayyaf. According to Abu Sulayman, the Abu Sayyaf would "bring the war to Manila" in retaliation for the assault mounted by the police in Camp Bagong Diwa. And it is because of the Abu Sayyaf's own statement, perhaps, that tough questions aren't being asked of the three officials.
First of all, although every member of the press finds it most convenient that officials like Gonzalez exist, Cabinet members leaking like sieves is not conducive to forming a calm and sober picture of the security situation. Lomibao, too, failed to explain just how the alleged confession was extracted during "tactical interrogation," since it is public knowledge that such interrogations have involved torture in the past, and confessions extracted from beatings can be unreliable since they tend to reveal what the interrogators want to hear. Finally, Medalle may be trying to help, but are anonymous phone calls giving such specific information really meant to be passed on to the general public?
Whether the Abu Sayyaf hopes to sow terror during the Holy Week by bombing Catholic churches or shopping malls, it's clear that the times call for heightened vigilance among the populace. The PNP has achieved solid and credible gains in arresting terror suspects in the past, through the help of civic-minded individuals. It's been joked about that Filipinos are such notorious gossips and so terribly inquisitive, that they serve as an early-warning system for the police. What is true is that concerned neighborhoods are the bulwark of public safety, and that local communities can have a big hand in securing their own safety. Not only from terrorists, but also from the bad habits of our military and police.
There are thousands of policemen on the front line, so to speak, during Holy Week. They deserve the full support of the public. We cannot leave things in their hands, however. Every person who decides to travel can help make the job of the police easier by being patient when long lines form, and by doing what they can to facilitate inspection. Keeping a sharp eye out for anything that may be amiss doesn't mean panic needs to set in when something appears troublesome. Remember, sowing fear in people's hearts is the primary objective of all terrorists.
Victimized
IT'S unfair, of course, to criticize Manny Pacquiao for hitting the blackjack tables in Las Vegas, but in case anyone wants to do so, remember he was only following the example of government leaders. Millions of Filipinos were content to endure the miserable coverage of his fight on their TV sets, but apparently for our congressmen, television isn't exciting enough. At a time of soaring deficits, a spectacular number of congressmen trekked to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao in person.
One congressman went as far as to justify his junket, saying it was merely a pit stop on the way to "consulting" with Filipinos overseas. One or two congressmen might have gotten away with such an excuse, but as there were nearly enough congressmen in Las Vegas to constitute a quorum in the House of Representatives, the justification fails to convince.
posted by Dante at 6:50 AM
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