EDITORIAL — Brazen attack

It’s a police station in one of the densely populated areas of Metro Manila. This didn’t stop gunmen from strafing and lobbing a grenade at a building housing the Northern Police District’s drug enforcement and criminal investigation units early last Saturday. Witnesses said three men on two motorcycles launched the attack before 2 a.m. on the NPD detachment, located along the boundary of Dagat-Dagatan in Caloocan and Barangay Longos in Malabon.

No one was reported wounded in the attack, but two vehicles parked near the building were hit by the bullets from 9mm guns. The hand grenade also damaged the steps leading to the building. More damaging, however, was the fear sown by the attack. An eatery nearby was still open and the customers scampered for safety during the assault that reportedly lasted for about a minute.

Residents said it was not the first time that the police detachment had been attacked. NPD officials said they suspected persons involved in drug deals as the culprits, amid an aggressive campaign against criminality particularly drug trafficking. The officials said the attack appeared meant more to frighten and harass than to kill.

Whoever was responsible must be caught, so that residents can be reassured of their personal safety. If a police detachment in a busy area in Metro Manila can be strafed and attacked with a grenade, how can civilians feel safe? And how easy is it for criminals to obtain Mk-2 grenades in this country?

The police detachment is just a short drive from the NPD headquarters. There are public schools nearby as well as a church, a small market and residential communities. If the anti-crime campaign in that area has been aggressive, the NPD should also exert the same zeal in going after the gunmen. Anyone with the gumption and resources to attack a police detachment will readily attack civilian targets.