EDITORIAL — A worrisome thought

There seems to be a sudden surge in daring robberies the past few days. Yet, while it pains us to say this, we will feel relieved if all these robberies are just what they are, pure and simple robberies.

We will feel relieved because pure and simple robberies are to be expected in a city like Cebu, the second biggest city in the Philippines and the most important business hub in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In fact, given its size and importance, it is even a wonder that Cebu does not seem to have the same crime volume ratio as that which is bedeviling Manila. The situation here is not something to split hairs over.

That is, of course, unless the sudden surge in daring robberies in Cebu is an indication of something more dark and sinister, something that does not fit the standard mold of pure and simple robberies. Then we will be really worried.

For what if these robberies are part of the coming electoral process, part of a design to generate funds that otherwise were usually sourced from big business contributors, a source that, according to some political analysts, have started to dry up over the years?

In Manila, where crime of every sort is always rampant, observers have started noting a trend that ties up a surge in kidnappings for ransom to impending political exercises. In effect, the unofficial observation is that dirty money has found its way to mainstream politics.

Is the surge of robberies in Cebu tied to the coming midterm elections in May? We most certainly hope not. But we cannot help but feel uneasy over the possibility, especially since there has already been a previous incident in which a politician was implicated in a robbery.

Politics is already dirty as it is without dirty money having to tarnish it even further. But what analysts are saying makes us pause. With the cost of getting elected running into the tens of millions, and business sources frustrated by the results, what options are still there?