Pre-emptive measures to ensure peace and order

The Armed Forces are on red alert and we must say that they have been very conscientious in their efforts that peace and order would prevail over the country at a time when one of the major world problems is the threat posed by international terrorists. Some sectors have totally misinterpreted the situation. They have taken it to mean that it is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s way of scaring people over new destabilization moves against her administration. If there is a danger of destabilization moves, it is not over President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration. It is on the Davide issue. There may be mass actions from both the pro and anti Davide camps. But these can undoubtedly be kept within legal bounds.

And the good thing is that even if the Armed Forces are under red alert, there is no attempt to clamp down on any demonstration. People are free to organize and rally in the streets so long as no violence is displayed. In short, we have a government of laws and not of men. The focus of attention at the moment is not on how the Palace is performing, but on how the Supreme Court Justice has disbursed the Judiciary Development Fund. There are demonstrations pro and con but they have all been peaceful and orderly. This is because the rallyists themselves are vigilant and take proper measures to see that saboteurs do not infiltrate their mass activities. President Macapagal-Arroyo herself has instructed the police to exercise "maximum tolerance" when dealing with demonstrators.

We have nothing but praise for the way the police are insuring peace and order. It is very difficult these days to go around and not encounter the police inspecting vehicles to insure that they carry no explosives or searching individuals to ascertain that they carry no deadly weapons. But everything is done very politely and people cooperate because they know that it is their own protection that is at stake.

Australia and the United States were perfectly right in saying that the Philippines is a high-risk target from international terrorists. Both made it clear that the target of the terrorists here may be not the Filipinos but their own citizens. We don’t see why some quarters took offense at their statement. They are just relaying information gathered by their intelligence. They are not blaming the Philippines for the situation. The Philippines is a victim of terrorists just like the rest of the world.

Our army intelligence confirmed their reports when they declared themselves on red alert. We believe that Americans and Australians may be the special target of terrorists. Their citizens should be on red alert. The best defense ordinary people can have against terrorists is to avoid unnecessary exposure in crowded places. But business and life should go on as usual.