EDITORIAL - Law enforcement can’t wait

In Basilan, a bomb exploded Friday night at the gate of St. Peter parish church in Lamitan City. The improvised explosive device damaged the church but no one was injured. A year ago on New Year’s Eve, an  IED was also lobbed at a house near the San Vicente Ferrer parish church in Sumisip, Basilan, killing six people and injuring several others who were celebrating the New Year.

Over in Cotabato City, an official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was shot dead late Thursday afternoon at the public market as he waited in his sport utility vehicle for his wife. Norodin Manalao, who chaired the ARMM council in charge of settling the numerous clan feuds or rido in the autonomous region, died at the scene from 11 gunshot wounds.

Officials said over 400 people have been killed by suspected hired guns in Cotabato City in the past four years alone. More than 90 percent of the murders are unsolved. The city, although hosting the seat of the ARMM government, is not part of the autonomous region. Neither is Isabela City, capital of Basilan, which has also been the scene of numerous murders and bomb attacks.

Being outside the ARMM, these places fall under the jurisdiction of the national and local governments, where all the country’s laws must be applied and strictly enforced, without exception. State security forces cannot use the peace process as an excuse in failing to do their job of enforcing laws, maintaining peace and order and keeping the public safe.

The secretary of justice has told the Senate that even in enclaves occupied predominantly by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, nothing can stop the government from enforcing the law or performing its mandate of ensuring public safety. If the group coddles terrorists, the state is within its right to go after the fugitives without abiding by the agreement in the peace process to coordinate with the MILF, which would effectively tip off the suspects.

The MILF is not even claiming “territory” in Cotabato or Isabela cities. The peace process cannot be used by the government as an excuse for failure to go after bombers, murderers and illegal holders of guns and explosives. Law enforcement and public safety cannot wait.