Terrorist throws bomb at Makati commercial building

We have not resolved the problems of the on-going assassinations of newsmen and activists. Now we have an even bigger problem. Terrorists are bombing commercial buildings. Last Tuesday, someone threw a bomb right in front of the Great Pacific Life Assurance Corp. The good thing was that no one was killed or injured and there was minimum damage to property. The bad news is that it happened in a building in Makati’s main commercial center. This is sure to make foreign businessmen think twice before investing in the Philippines.

The first thing to consider is whether the person or group responsible for the bombing had something personal against the owners of the building or it is part of a general terrorist’s plan. The Yuchengcos own Pacific Plans Inc. and it seems as if some planholders are dissatisfied. This, by the way, is true of other pre-need corporations.

A group called Kawal at Taong Bayan has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but no one seems to have heard of this group before. Whoever was responsible must have had dealings with the Yuchengcos. It was certainly the work of amateur and not trained terrorists. The improvised explosive used was a pillbox and the only damaged it did was to shatter the glass panels on the first floor where the office of Great Pacific Life Plans is located.

We hope this is an isolated case and not the start of a general plan to go from assassinating newsmen and activists to bombing commercial center buildings. Sad to say, Makati City has become one of the centers of the rallies demanding that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo step down. We hope it does not graduate to the bombings of commercial buildings.

What we need is peace and order. President Arroyo has a plan to make the Philippines a first rate nation. She should make that plan public complete with a timetable. That is the only thing that can truly make the country move forward – a sustainable plan for progress.

But more important, terrorist activities should cease and it will only cease when the people responsible for the assassinations of newsmen and activists and now the terrorist bombers are identified, apprehended and charged in court.

Assassinations and bombings cannot solve any of the country’s problems. They can only make things worse. The only good thing we can say about the bombing of the Grepalife Building is that, from all indications, the bomber did not want any casualties and even only minimal damage to property. Let us give credit where due. All he wanted was to deliver a message. Unfortunately, his demand remains a mystery.