EDITORIAL - When people keep explosives

Police have reported finding a cache of guns, ammunition, and explosives at a sugar mill compound owned by former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves.

“Initially, there were ammunition and firearms that were seized on Saturday night. There were also explosives dug up, but we are not yet sure if these are whole,” Criminal Investigation and Detection Group public information office chief Police Lt. Col. Marissa Bruno was quoted as saying in a report in Philstar.com.

The mere presence of the guns and ammunition doesn’t prove anything for now, although this may have the effect of enforcing the theory that some members of the Teves family are involved in several murders, including that of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

However, this editorial isn’t about that speculation. It’s about the explosives allegedly found along with the guns and ammunition.

It is something else when people keep explosives on hand.

We can understand why some people keep guns. Guns are there for protection, they are both for offensive as well as for defensive purposes. However, explosives are for offensive purposes only. They aren’t used defensively, except perhaps as booby traps.

Which means that people keep explosives in case they need to attack someone.

Explosives are more dangerous than guns. While one can point a gun and direct the bullet in a certain direction, an explosive doesn’t discriminate in what direction the shrapnel goes when it explodes.

Unlike guns it is also harder to solve an attack with an explosive. This makes it ideal as an instrument of terror as much as an offensive weapon.

Which also means that people who have explosives may be looking to sow fear or terror.

If indeed explosives were found, police must find out how they were sourced, why they were being kept, and also for what specific purpose they were meant to be used.