Peaceful despite negative findings?

There was this news item recently about two high ranking police officers reacting negatively to the Camp Crame report that Central Visayas is "the most dangerous place" in the country. Their brief was that such report "might send a wrong message to prospective investors" and discourage tourists from visiting the region. Without refuting the veracity of the report, they commented that most people look at Cebu City as the most peaceful place in the country.

On the first point these gentlemen were right. Any adverse report on the state of law and order in an area always creates a bad impression of that area. And its not only the investors and the tourists who get jittery out of such impression. Everyone does. Without doubt when one's safety is compromised, or when there's an apparent malfunction of the criminal justice system, the first thought that comes to a capitalist is to look for other places. For a plethora of crimes not only frightens the investors themselves, it also shoos away their prospective customers.

Tourist of course come to a place to enjoy. They look for quiet places near the sea or near the hills where nature is exuberant. We in Cebu have plenty of these, but of what good is the lure of nature if the visitors don't feel secured? One can garrison his resort with squads of guards but the more these would frighten vacationists. The perception of safety is not evoked only by what is seen but also by what is unseen, and the image of the 167 bodies pumped with lead would surely form part of that perception.

One can argue that Cebu City is not the Central Visayas, hence, what is happening here cannot be the reason why this region is tagged as the most dangerous place in the country. Yet it can also be reasoned out that in terms of socio-economic developments including commercial ventures and industrial activities as well as in terms of educational initiatives and cultural affairs, Cebu City is the hub in this region. Demographic movement is therefore towards this City making it the most densely populated area in Region 7. So if Cebu City sneezes, the entire region gets the cold. And since it is here where people are slaughtered like chicken and no questions asked, is it surprising if with the Camp Crame's figures the Central Visayas is looked upon as the wild wild west in the Philippines?

The claim that Cebu City is the most peaceful place in the country is nothing but just a claim whose basis is just in the imagination of those police officers. Yes, we hosted the SEA games without an unfortunate incident. Yes, there have been a number of international fora held in the city. More significant, this year we shall host the Asian Summit. But these are no argument against the findings of the PNP authorities. As the saying goes, figures don't lie.

If only we have strengthened the anti-crime mechanism in this area those conferences and tourist arrivals would have certainly been several times over in number. And those investors who have settled in other Asian cities would have been drawn to these parts. Sure, other factors affect the choice of companies where to set up their operations, but there is no arguing that the quality of social order plays a crucial role.

The question now is whether local leadership will take immediate steps to correct the situation. If more crimes are committed in this region, what could be the reason? If more crimes are left unsolved, what should be done?

To the credit of Governor Gwen Garcia, she has preempted the call for action with her declaration of an all-out war against ideological rebels, a move backed up with a financial windfall for the provincial police force. What about in the Cebu City, will its leadership come up too with the equivalent of the Governor's muscle flexing? Vigilantism no doubt has dragged down the reputation of its police force. Once touted as "Cebu City's finest", now its crime-busting capability is a basket-case.

And what about the Administration, does it have something to offer? In her SONA President Arroyo said the Central Visayas shall be the country's tourism magnet, but how can this happen if security is a problem?

The Camp Crame report is indeed a wake-up call to the leaderships in Central Visayas. Will something positive come out of it?

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