Espinoza: Are we still safe from terrorists?

DREADFUL. The bomb attack on Friday, June 28, inside a military camp in Indanan, Sulu was the work of suicide bombers, similar to the bombing of the Catholic Cathedral on Jan. 27, 2019 in Jolo, Sulu. This was the initial finding of the investigation conducted by the military.

What happened in the Jolo Cathedral bombing that killed several churchgoers and the bombing of a military camp by suicide bombers is scary and dreadful. To know that there are now suicide bombers in our land is simply spine-tingling. We only hear or read this kind of news in Middle Eastern countries and Europe where the dreaded Isis operates.

According to Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, the group of Abu Sayyaf led by Hatib Sawadjaan is behind the attack on Friday of the military camp in Indanan. He said that from their monitoring, the foreign terrorists have merged with the group of Sawadjaan.

From the early military report, the investigators described the attack as suicide bombing and the Isis was conceited enough to claim responsibility. General Sobejana, however, said that the military and police investigators are still looking into how the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were detonated.

Even more chilling is the fact that terrorists could easily bomb a military camp and to think that Mindanao is still under military rule. The question now is how safe are we in public places, the malls and other areas where people converge during events? I may sound alarmist and I can’t speak for the others, but I think this is everyone’s concern.

Even more appalling is the declaration of the PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde that if ordered by the President he would arrest those who sign the petition for the impeachment of President Duterte. I am certainly not for the impeachment of the President, but excuse me, Mr. Chief of Police, the entire country is not yet under martial law and every citizen still enjoys the freedom of expression.

I had the chance to read the other night the signature campaign that was posted on FB for the impeachment of the President over his pronouncement that the Chinese can continue fishing on our grounds. Yesterday, I read the news that PNP Chief AAlbayalde will reportedly order the arrest of those who signed the campaign if the President orders him to do so.

The critics of the administration and those campaigning for the signatures without doubt would call the pronouncements of Albayalde as boot-licking. Is his replacement looming? His statement could also be a stern warning for the movers not to proceed with their signature-gathering to have President Duterte impeached.

Mr. PNP chief, the impeachment of any high ranking elected or appointed government official is a political matter. So, leave it to the politicians. Remember that majority, if not all of the representatives, are pro-administration. An impeachment complaint could be literally dead before it’s born. Your primary concern, as you are well aware of, is the peace and order of this nation.

Let our cops get those bandits in Mindanao like the Abu Sayyaf and the Isis rather than talking like a civilian. While the nature of the police under the new law is now civilian, still it’s main responsibility is to maintain peace and order, and to serve and protect the Filipino people and not to scare or harass those the hold the opposite views.

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