Malacañang “Terrorized” Davao

RAW INFO DAW — It was good  President Aquino immediately clarified that the intelligence  information about a terror attack in Davao City is still “raw”, meaning not confirmed yet. In our dlalect it is “hilaw”. To some it is “tsismis”, subject to verification.  So, what the heck did we have to witness the spectacle of no less than the DILG Secretary Mar Roxas landing in Davao and calling for a press conference to announce it?

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ALWAYS ON ALERT — Without Malacañang telling us,  Davao City under Mayor Duterte and had always been on high alert. Yes, we should all be vigilant and expect the worse case scenarios.   Sec. Roxas  need not  parachute in to tell us what to do and then safely  fly out after leaving all of us panicky!    If something does happen, (God forbid!),  Davao City is  prepared.  We have gone through several bombings already and survived.

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DAVAO “TERRORIZED” — It is NOT so much  the alleged terror threats per se, but the way Malacañang handled the so-called terror threats that really “terrorized” many in Davao.  Assuming there is basis for that “raw” info, it was bad crisis management the way it was handled!

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BAD CRISIS MANAGEMENT —I thought the standard operating procedure (SOP) in similar situations is to hold closed door briefings and discreet preparations together with operatives and law enforcers and relevant officials including tactical sectors. The situation needs proper crisis management. This way we avoid undue panic of ordinary folks. A secret phone call or a closed door meeting with Mayor Duterte would have been sufficient. Why the grandstanding?

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CITIZENS SUFFER —  The way things are handled,   Dabawenyos are sure losers  because  normal activities are restrained, business slows down and people are apprehensive and worried. Non-Davao residents even skipped Davao visits in the meantime out of fear.  With all these, the bad guys, without doing yet anything already succeeded in terrorizing citizens, courtesy of   Malacañang!

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STAY VIGILANT — Having said all of the above, we still have to stay vigilant — as always. Terrorists can strike at will and anytime. But we should NOT allow them to win by feeling terrorized!