Real threat

Avid followers of the nightly teleseryes on national television were abruptly interrupted from their blissful viewing Tuesday night. The disruption proved to be shocking: a breaking news story on a bomb blast at the Batasan Pambansa complex in the capital Manila. Suddenly, all the fantasy and fictional drama were replaced by real images of blasted vehicles, bloodied victims, shattered building, and commotion as survivors tried to help the wounded.

The incident, which happened within the compound that is home to the offices and halls of the House of Representatives, was unnerving in itself. In a current historical context, it is even more chilling considering it comes less than a month after the still unsolved bombing at the Glorietta Mall in Makati, the country’s premier business district. 

Condemnations have been voiced against the perpetrators of this latest crime that claimed four lives, seriously wounded several others and hurt countless family and friends of the victims. We join these voices, including those of Pangasinan’s own House Representatives and Dangupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, in denouncing the attack.

And we also join calls for a speedy and convincing resolution of the case. We say convincing because there is a pervading suspicion across the country that the administration itself could be behind both the Glorietta and Batasan bombings. That does not speak well of the leadership and it desperately needs to restore the people’s trust.

Even when all the alarming incidents seem to be confined at this point within Metro Manila, the fear has reached beyond the boundaries of the capital city.

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., who was in Pangasinan this week, himself told local newsmen that he has already ordered all his regional and police directors to intensify the security watch of vital installations in their respective areas.

The threat is real and it is on a national scale.

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ERRATUM

In last week’s editorial, we inadvertently labeled November 13 as the “founding anniversary” of Pangasinan instead of simply referring to it as Pangasinan Day. We deeply regret the error.

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