On the South China Sea incident

The incident in the South China Sea in which a Chinese ship rammed a Filipino fishing boat had caused so much controversy. Some sectors are so enraged by the incident and blamed the crew of the Chinese ship for intentionally doing it. Maybe and maybe not. President Duterte is right when he said that we must not rush to conclusion, only after a thorough and full-blown investigation we can arrive at a clear knowledge and understanding of what actually transpired.

On just being on accident, we cannot rule out the possibility that the one on watch at the bridge of the Chinese ship that fateful evening was asleep or was drunk, resulting in the catastrophe. This theory is boosted by the statements of some of the crew of the Filipino fishing vessel who believe that perhaps the ramming of the boat by the Chinese ship was just an accident.

On the Chinese ship leaving the area immediately after the incident and the Filipino fishermen helpless on their sinking boat, perhaps they panicked very much like the hit and run accidents in our roads and highways.

At this point in time prudence dictates that we must keep our cool as the president admonished. Eventually the truth will come out and will set us free.

Jose Goc-ong Hortelano

Biasong, Balamban, Cebu

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The real reason for the killings

The real reason for the killings is Republic Act No. 10591 of the 15th Congress: An act providing for a comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition signed for the Senate by Juan Ponce Enrile and for the House of Representatives by Feliciano Belmonte, and signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino on May 29, 2013.

The law legalizes ownership and possession of firearms by private Filipinos. It is being abused million-fold. The ready availability of firearms in anybody’s hands including criminals’ is the real reason for the killings. Therefor the law must be abolished without replacement.

Now that anybody including law enforcers, public servants, and lawmakers have become targets of that pernicious law the latter have an interest to abolish it. The problem is that some of them have private armies that then had to surrender to police and regular army. A transition period would be somewhat bloody.

In a civilian society only the state through the police has the violence monopoly. After the disarmament and confiscation of the estimated 2 million legal and illegal weapons in private hands the armed forces can then do their genuine duty to defend the territory, integrity, and sovereignty of the Philippine nation.

Erich Wannemacher

Lapu-Lapu City