Wednesday, December 13, 2006 Editorials: What if terrorism threat is still here in January
THE Government has not been known for telling it straight. Most governments don't always report the story as it is. Facts are used to suit motive, woven or embellished to fit in with purpose.
It surprised few people that the Government picked weather disturbance to explain the resetting of the Asian summit to January.
Not the advisories of five countries, including United States, Britain, and Japan, asking their nationals to skip Cebu because of terrorism threat.
Not the political storm gathering in Manila as House of Representatives pushed constituent assembly to amend the charter by themselves, without the Senate.
More convenient
Typhoon Seniang was more convenient. Who quarrels with weather endangering the flights that ferry the Asean heads of state? Can anyone dispute that Seniang, forecast to head for north Cebu, could have changed path and drubbed Cebu City instead?
Never mind that one local host, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, told Agence France Presse, the postponement of the summit was "a sign of a weak government." The mayor, a President Arroyo ally, can say the darndest things, some of which can hit right there.
But unless there's compelling proof saying it isn't so, no one, not even the mayor, can dispute that rescheduling the summit was in the national interest. Everyone else's punditry merely speculates.
Not false alarm
OK, it was Seniang, not threat of terrorists' assault, not a brewing constitutional crisis in Manila.
Political storm can be dissipated. With the House backing off and Malacañang retreating, at least in public, street protests may not lead to the anarchy that brings down governments.
And Seniang or kin is not likely to return in January just to spite summit organizers.
But what about terrorism threat which can't be shrugged off as false alarm? Regional police chief Silverio Alarcio Jr., Task Force Asean chief, says there's no specific threat. But five foreign governments, with superior intelligence equipment, say the danger is clear and present.
Level with us
What if in January the travel bans won't be lifted, telling the world the threat still exists? Not only Asean ministers and other delegates, but also our citizens, will be put at serious risk.
Fiddle with typhoons but when it comes to threat of terrorism, leaders have to level with constituents, summit or no summit.
