EDITORIAL – Scare tactics

The pillbox explosion at the Court of Appeals last Monday night would have been dismissed as a minor incident between warring gangs in Ermita; the Manila police chief initially said as much. By early afternoon yesterday, however, a group calling itself the Taong Bayan at Kawal ng Pilipinas had claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying it was the start of a series of attacks to force President Arroyo to step down before the 20th anniversary of the EDSA revolt on Feb. 22.

Whether or not there is really such a group, the use of violence to promote any cause is contemptible. The explosion in the deserted area, recorded at around 9:30 p.m., was obviously meant to scare and not to harm. This rules out Islamist terrorists, who always go for the highest body count when they launch an attack. This also rules out communist rebels, who do not attack deserted government buildings unless they are raiding an armory. Neither group uses pillboxes.

Since the gang war theory has been dropped, this leaves destabilizers as possible culprits. Some opposition members, on the other hand, have raised suspicions that the government itself is responsible, setting the stage for a clampdown on political dissent.

No matter which group is behind the explosion, the use of violence can never be condoned. A pillbox creates a minor explosion, but it can still cause harm. From pillboxes, the culprits can also turn to more powerful explosives to make a stronger statement.

The public must be vigilant against those who are trying to sow fear. And law enforcers must intensify their efforts to find these troublemakers. The nation has enough problems without having to worry about explosions in public places. Any effort to scare the public for political purposes is a form of terrorism that must be stopped.