PGMA's Statement on the Davao City bombing incident |
Dakak Beach Resort, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (2 April 2003) |
| TONIGHT'S BOMBING
IN DAVAO IS PART OF THE RENEWED CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM I HAVE WARNED ABOUT IN THE PAST
WEEKS. THIS IS A GRIM REMINDER THAT WE MUST ALWAYS BE ALERT AND WATCHFUL OF THOSE WHO WISH
TO DO US HARM IN A MANNER THAT CREATES A WIDE SWATH OF FEAR. WE MUST NOT BE INTIMIDATED.
THE POLICE AND THE MILITARY ALONE CANNOT DO THE JOB. THIS IS A TOTAL WAR REQUIRING THE
FULL ATTENTION AND RESOURCES OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. EACH CITIZEN MUST BE THE EYES AND
EARS TO SENSE DANGER AND INITIATIVE TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT TO THE AUTHORITIES. I STARTED DOING MY COUNTER-TERRORISM INSPECTIONS IN METRO MANILA LAST WEEK AND RAISED THE SAME WARNINGS AS I TRAVERSED SEVERAL PORTS THROUGHOUT MY TRIP. AS MANY OF YOU REPORTERS WERE WITNESSES, THIS WAS NOT A FRIVOLOUS TRIP. IN EVERY LEG OF THE TRIP WE HAD THIS KIND OF DISCUSSIONS, COMMAND CONFERENCE WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND ALSO THE LAW ENFORCERS. OUR ALERTNESS MUST BE ALL ENCOMPASSING, PENETRATING AND NATIONWIDE. WE CANNOT LEAVE AN OPENING FOR THE ENEMY THAT STRIKES WHEN IT SEES US RELAXED OUR GUARD. THAT'S THE MESSAGE I GAVE TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN BORACAY, BECAUSE BORACAY IS OUR BALI. THAT'S THE MESSAGE I GAVE TO THE OFFICIALS OF ILOILO PROVINCE AND NEGROS PROVINCE WHEN WE HAD OUR SECURITY COMMAND CONFERENCE IN THE BOAT BETWEEN ILOILO AND BACOLOD. THAT'S THE SAME MESSAGE I GAVE WHEN WE HAD OUR COMMAND CONFERENCE WITH THE OFFICIALS OF NEGROS ORIENTAL AND ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE IN THE TRIP BETWEEN DUMAGUETE AND DAPITAN. I SAID WE MUST HARDEN POTENTIAL TARGETS BY DEMONSTRATING COLLECTIVE VIGILANCE. I'VE JUST TALKED WITH MY LEGAL COUNSEL NONONG CRUZ JUST NOW. AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH HIM, I AM ORDERING THE AFP, ASSISTED BY THE PNP, TO DO A CRACKDOWN ON THESE LAWLESS ELEMENTS, TERRORISTS, AND TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE MEASURES FOR THE ARREST OF THESE LAWLESS ELEMENTS AND TERRORISTS INCLUDINGTHE SETTING UP OF CHECKPOINTS AND VISIBILITY PATROLS. TOGETHER WITH THE DAVAO BOMBERS WHO DID THE ATROCITY OUTSIDE THE DAVAO AIRPORT, THESE TERRORISTS WILL BE HUNTED DOWN AND BE MADE TO FACE THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW. |