EDITORIAL - Find them, punish them

Whoever is responsible for the strafing and bombings in Metro Manila yesterday as well as the terrorist threat on the US Embassy must be caught and punished. A group calling itself the "Enlightened Warriors" and styling itself as anti-administration has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Military officials said they had never heard of the group.

In the age of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, no country is completely safe from terrorist attacks. The Philippines has suffered from terrorism even before the attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001. What matters to the world is whether governments are doing enough to fight the threat. Foreign diplomatic missions must be assured that security measures are in place to prevent terrorist attacks, despite the presence of extremist militants in the host country.

Similarly, the public must see that the government is catching those who are trying to sow fear and instability. Whether or not there is a group called Enlightened Warriors, those who set off bombs yesterday in Metro Manila and strafed the building owned by the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo must be caught. The group claimed it was targeting individuals and organizations identified with the First Gentleman.

The perpetrators clearly have a selfish political agenda. No matter which side of the political fence stands to benefit from the attacks, the country is the loser. The attacks aggravate perceptions of political instability and security threats that are scaring away investments and tourism.

With several areas coming under attack yesterday, police investigators should have enough leads to solve at least one of the incidents. Similar attacks in the past, which also did not leave anyone dead or wounded, remain unsolved. These attacks must not be left to languish in the realm of speculation. Whatever the agenda, there is no excuse for violence in a free society.