Thursday, January 31, 2008 Bautista: They can strike anywhere, anytime By Sam Bautista Tea Leaf Reader
THE latest violence, which occurred right inside a courtroom, is truly an eye popper for all of us. Imagine a lone gunman taking justice into his own hands right inside the hallowed halls of judges.
If the reports are true then Tuesday's daylight murder is the fourth in less than one year inside a courthouse. That's four times which only show how lax and relaxed security is in a supposedly very secure location. That's probably the irony of it all -- with tens of policemen at the area at any given hour -- because they have to attend one hearing or another, as witnesses or respondent -- and still the killings were perpetrated.
It really just goes to show that a terrorist, whether driven by political conviction religious belief or motivated by monetary gain, can and do strike anywhere and at anytime. Law enforcers are really at the losing end of the battle against this kind of violence.
Which reminds of the time when an attempt was made on the life of Pope John Paul II. Don't ask me the date, I'm poor at that especially when it occurred when I was but a mere teener (yeah right). But the gunman also sauntered towards the pope and shot him at point blank range. Luckily Pope John Paul II survived the attack.
Another lucky survivor is former US President Ronald Reagan on his second term as the strongest man in the world. The assassin also moseyed close enough to the President -- despite the presence of the world's best security force -- and shot him.
If these two very prominent people could fall victim to such determination, how much more for ordinary mortals like the former mayor who was at the courthouse for a hearing of a case against him.
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If you can't be secure inside a justice hall, how about other public places?
It certainly is weird to know that malls have stricter security measures than in our halls of justice or other public areas. Whenever you enter a mall, the security check begins at the entryway. You're frisked, sometimes all the way down to the heels, and any suspicious metallic matter found on you and you're immediately asked to explain its presence on your body.
In the justice hall, this just isn't done. Ditto for city or town halls where hundreds of people transact business every hour. It is rare to find the same kind of security consciousness in these public buildings as in malls.
One time I was standing on the stairwell of a mall in Baguio and the security guard approached me. I was only standing on the stairs for about five minutes and the guard was already asking me what I was doing there. I had to explain that I was searching through the crowd of faces for my lost companion and wanted the advantage of height, which the stairwell gave me.
Of course, when the guard insisted, rather too brusquely, that what I was doing wasn't allowed and practically shoved me out of the stairs that I filed a complaint with the mall administrators. I believe the guard no longer works at the mall ... but that's another story.
Anyway this little anecdote just goes to prove how tight security could be inside malls, while the opposite is true in courthouses and city and town halls.
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So what are we to do against such resolve?
Well, security experts will say not to rely on guards and the regular police force to ensure our safety in public areas. What needs to do be done is for all of us to take security personally.
The same advice they will give if you ask them how not become a victim of a snatcher or cutpurse. Especially in crowded places, they stress.
If you find yourself in a similar situation as Tuesday's assault at the courthouse the experts have this to say -- stay calm, keep your head down and most importantly don't get in the way of police operatives.
Other than this you can always stay home and live a hermit's life.
