KIKO CONDEMNS DAVAO BLAST;
SCORES PNP FOR LAXITY
"We cannot always be a step behind in the fight for peace and order..."

Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today condemned the Davao bus blast yesterday and scored authorities for "their apparent laxity and lack of determination to protect the people."

"Our police was supposed to be on heightened alert because of the first day of Ramadan. If a crime this terrible can get past our authorities, how can we assure the public that their police can protect them?" Kiko asked.

An improvised explosive device placed over an overhead baggage compartment and remotely detonated by a mobile phone shocked Digos City yesterday, killing at least six people and wounding 30 others. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but police suspects that the extortion gang al-Khobar was behind the blast.

"We cannot always be a step behind in the fight for peace and order. Our authorities are not supposed to just chase suspects after lives have been lost and fear has been sowed among our people. They are supposed to uncover these plans before they happen and prevent criminals from succeeding," Kiko lamented.

"Now we are back to pressuring our authorities to get to the bottom of this crime. Our people are tired of this belated response we get from our authorities. If we are to put an end top all these attacks against the rule of law, our authorities need to show that they are more than able to stop lawbreakers from committing crimes, and that they are able to punish the guilty, and punish fast," Kiko ended.