EDITORIAL - Brazenness

In the largest gated village in the country, where all vehicles need a sticker for entry or else drivers must surrender their license, gunmen struck Saturday right at the most tightly secured compound: the home of the original owner of the entire BF Homes and Banco Filipino.

Banker Albert “Bobby” Aguirre, who was resting on the second floor of his home in BF Homes in Las Piñas, was unhurt in the attack, but three of his security escorts, including two members of the Police Security and Protection Group of the Philippine National Police, were shot dead. As of yesterday, police investigators were still not sure whether the security escorts or Aguirre himself was the target.

A witness said about 10 gunmen arrived in two cars, a taxi and a motorcycle, and began firing away as soon as they were let in by a security guard, who was himself killed. The attack was caught on closed-circuit TV cameras inside the compound, but as of yesterday, no arrests had been made.

Police said one possibility is that the attack was fueled by a feud among security agencies. Regardless of the motive, the attack highlights the increasing brazenness of people who think they can get away with using guns and violence to achieve certain ends in this country. The attack can only indicate worsening lawlessness, and the ease by which guns can be obtained.

The attack should bring urgency to the need for a heightened campaign against criminality. Guns are not the only items that can be easily obtained clandestinely. Vehicles can also be easily stolen for use in crimes, making it harder to find suspects. The motorcycle used in the attack and left behind at the Aguirre compound was reportedly stolen shortly before the incident. A heightened campaign against crime can start with the arrest of the killers of the three security escorts – plus measures to prevent a repeat of such attacks.