MANILA TIMES EDITORIAL: DASTARDLY ATTACK
MANILA, JANUARY 27, 2011 (MANILA TIMES) The Manila Times strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a bus Tuesday that killed five passengers and injured more than a dozen others.
We also join others in condoling with the families of the victims, some of whom were still in critical condition as of this writing. Reports have it that the bomb used was an improvised explosive device, or IED, made from an 81-mm mortar round that was triggered by a mobile phone. But the police investigation is ongoing, even as the entire country remains under a PNP full alert flag as of Wednesday. The incident rattled the country, where such attacks were more familiar to the far-away, restive South rather than the capital region. The day after the bombing, the prevailing emotion was outrage, and the business sector braced for the aftershock that was expected to strike the stock market, not to mention the already troubled image of the Philippines.
We are pleased to note, however, that life goes on as usual the day after the attack. For now, the public is reassured by the visibility of the President, who visited the victims and met with the police leadership to ensure that they are on top of the situation. We hope his gestures will be followed by swift action by the authorities, and the arrest of the perpetrators.
As its name suggests, the object of terrorism is to sow fear, and in that regard, the perpetrators failed miserably. We concede that the bombing raised anxieties. Discussions about it occupy the national media's attention, and the topic dominates shop talk. But those things are only natural.
Need to impose order
What should also be natural is to learn lessons from this tragedy. For instance, identifying and finding the terrorists might be easier if there were more order and better security measures along public-transport routes. A police official said during a radio interview that they were reviewing footage from a CCTV camera positioned near the blast site for clues about the attackers.
It would be easier to monitor buses if their drivers actually followed the traffic rules, such as using bus stops rather than loading and unloading passengers literally all over the highway. As said before in this space, perhaps the MMDA and other concerned agencies could look at traffic management innovations in Jakarta. Over there, the steps on bus entrances have been elevated so high that people can get on and off only by using ramps built at bus stops. The pink fences and yellow lane designed to compel bus drivers and passengers to use bus stops seem ineffective. If passengers can get on and off buses at designated stops only, monitoring the passengers would be easier and would require fewer personnel. Otherwise, law enforcers would have to be spread out over a larger area just to secure EDSA—which is the case today.
Another simple adjustment is to mandate a change in the way bus drivers are compensated. Right now, they get commissions from the fare earned. That's why they compete for passengers and create chaos for other motorists, because they compete with other bus drivers for patrons.
We think that these two simple measures will not only help the authorities ensure safety. They will also help ease traffic. With all due respect to the MMDA leadership, we think the gender of the driver is less important than the need to change the system.
A chaotic traffic scenario plays into the hands of criminals, because one of the greatest deterrents is the threat of being caught. What use is the death penalty or some other stiff punishment if criminals are not arrested? The threat of punishment increases as the chances of getting caught become higher.
Remove distractions
Related to the question above, how can the police be effective in protecting the public if they are distracted? Prior to the bombing, the police themselves were busy fending off criticisms and answering questions why members of the force were being linked to murder, kidnapping, car theft, rape, torture and other crimes. As it is, Manila has fewer policemen than other comparable major capital city.
We do not believe speculations that the bus bombing was a diversionary tactic to ease the pressure on the besieged national police. We believe that the majority of the police are honest and decent, but no one can deny the serious need to address the negative image of the law enforcement establishment.
We cannot help thinking about the time and resources wasted by law enforcers sidelined by probes into their alleged offenses, by police officers having to investigate one of their own, and by their leaders who are fielding questions about criminals in uniform rather than working to make the streets safe. These things must be done, even as the police commit personnel and resources to arresting terrorists and other criminals.
Given the situation, we hope to see the Palace play a larger role. Being visible, comforting the victims and talking tough is a good start for the President. But we hope to also see him acting tough and working intelligently, if not diligently.
The terrorist or group that bombed the bus probably hoped to create bedlam. Instead, we hope that the cowardly act provides the opportunity to clean up the police ranks, impose order on the streets, and in the end, create a society safer for all.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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