EDITORIAL - Solve this crime

People already worried about personal safety in this country have more reason to fret following the attack on the deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation. A bullet grazed the head of Reynaldo Esmeralda, who survived the ambush last Monday night in Paco, Manila.

Only the speedy solution of the crime will reassure the public that law enforcement authorities are in control of the peace and order situation. As of yesterday, however, the public continued to be treated mainly to an exchange of accusations between the camps of Esmeralda and former NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula.

Recently fired from the NBI after being implicated in a case of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and extortion, Gatdula has vehemently denied involvement in the ambush of Esmeralda. Gatdula’s camp has also openly voiced suspicion that Esmeralda had staged the ambush himself, to draw attention amid jockeying for the top NBI post. Esmeralda has denied the accusation. The NBI agent in charge of the investigation, for his part, has emphasized that the bureau still has no leads on the suspects or the motive for the attack. The Manila Police District has stepped into the investigation of the case.

The best way to unearth the truth is by catching the suspects. Esmeralda traveled with a police escort, his brother SPO1 Nilo Esmeralda, plus another police bodyguard who also serves as his driver. Nilo Esmeralda was wound-ed in the shoulder during the attack that was reportedly staged by two men on a motorcycle.

Public safety authorities must make sure that the perpetrators of this attack – and no fall guys, please – will be caught and brought to justice. If the deputy chief of the NBI can be ambushed during a busy hour in the city of Manila, ordinary citizens can only worry more about their own safety. What will be worse, however, is if law enforcement agencies fail to catch the perpetrators and solve the crime.