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Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wenceslao: That ‘bombing’ incident
By Bong O. Wenceslao
The first time I heard the report about the bombing attempt on SM City, I was incredulous at the convenience. Two suspects left behind a box in one of the entrances of the mall. Somebody tipped off the guard who in turn informed the police. Gunfire far from the commotion site and two bloodied bodies sprawled on the ground. Case solved.
But even as the police explained what happened, questions were blurted out. Why didn’t the terrorists choose a better exit strategy than just walking near Queen City Gardens? Were those killed---Ali Usop and Datu Niel Ulama---really the ones who planted the “bomb”? And was that thing placed in the box a bomb? Or will it explode?
The number of those questions would expand hours and days later. For reporters who covered the incident: Why was the police line placed far away from the supposed scene of the encounter between the police and the suspects? For Muslim leaders: Were the dead Muslims as initially reported? Were they handcuffed before they were shot?
Admittedly, people questioning what the police consider as an achievement in the fight against terrorism can be considered a downer. But not everybody can be pleased. Besides, there are some points going against the police on this one.
First, negative police image; second, some people’s ignorance; three, police actuation after the incident.
Actually, it would not have been difficult to accept what the police are saying on the SM bombing attempt had previous police shenanigans not been hovering over it. Like instances where police operatives were accused of planting evidence. Or of suspects killed under mysterious circumstances, like supposedly grabbing a police escort’s gun.
And the public? The problem with our present setup is that everybody acts knowledgeable even when they are not. How does terrorists operate, or specifically the local one called the Rajah Solaiman Revolutionary Movement? I mean lacking enough understanding, how can people come up with an enlightened judgment of the incident?
Finally, this peculiar setup where information on the incident is flowing from one source: the police. Like we were told those killed were Usup and Ulama. That they were Rajah Solaiman members. That the bomb planted was typical Rajah Solaiman bomb. Etcetera. This worries those who want a more independent appraisal of what happened.
In the end, though, the police should not worry. Assessment of the incident would change as more information about it filter in. Queries will be answered and questioning minds will be appeased. If that was a legitimate terrorist attack or not, we will know soon. In the meantime, the police should not feel down. That’s not the mature thing to do.
SICK BAY. I was hit by a bad case of migraine the other day, forcing me to leave the office posthaste and proceed to our old house in Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Sambag 2. In the process, I missed my column yesterday. Thank God the pain has subsided and I am back writing, though my head is still heavy.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0915-9228651)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 18, 2006 issue)
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