Editorial: Being resourceful

MORE than a week had passed after a bomb exploded near a hotel in Cagayan de Oro and yet, until now, police could not yet give the names of the perpetrators, or their masterminds.

Images of the suspects were captured by the hotel’s CCTV camera, which should have helped in the investigation. But alas, law enforcers themselves admitted they don’t have the equipment to enhance the images since these aren’t clear.

Perhaps, what is clear is the authorities’ lack of resources to go on with the investigation.

A city councilor said it is high time for the City Government to buy more sophisticated equipment like the so-called image enhancer to help law enforcers in their investigation, especially in solving the puzzle surrounding the bombing incident.

But shouldn’t this be the case? Law enforcement agencies should have the most sophisticated facilities to go after criminals. They should have all the equipment needed in investigating crimes, especially last week’s bombing incident.

Though only two died, had the second bomb not discovered and detonated, God forbid, we can expect more casualties. If that happened, residents would surely not accept the authorities’ reasoning that they cannot identify the suspects because the images captured in the CCTV camera are not clear.

Last week’s bombing should serve as a lesson for law enforcement agencies not to be complacent and be always ready.

By being ready means to invest in things that can aid in their investigation, like an image enhancer. We might add being resourceful too. If an image enhancer, for example, is not available, can we tap the help of other government agencies that specialize in related technology?

In problems like these, resourcefulness is the key.