WE are deeply saddened with the report that four people died in an alleged attack perpetrated by armed men who, the police claimed, were claimants to the land that is presently used as plantation of exportable bananas.
The huge farm is located in an area, which is part of the Municipality of Carmen in Davao del Norte.
Two of the dead, the police disclosed, were from the attackers numbering around 80 persons. Their identities were not made clear in the report.
But whoever they are, it is very unfortunate that in this time of serious emergency situation brought about by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the attackers had taken such extreme measures to grab parcels of land possibly leased to the corporate farm owners.
Yes, the alleged attackers may have taken a serious gamble in their lives but apparently, they lost in their gamble. Two of their members got killed, and perhaps there may be some others injured or hurt as a result of their alleged illegal occupation. And it would seem that they are the villains in that bloody exercise. For such fate, the alleged attackers could already be facing criminal cases in court.
We could not imagine how their families are coping with the resultant situation of their lives. Theirs is indeed a case of “the ends do not justify the means.”
************************
The Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), which used to be COVID-free up until the first two months of the health emergency now has a total of 15 persons found positive. This figure is as of Thursday, July 2, after another three persons were confirmed infected of the deadly virus.
In a statement to GMA’s reporter Jandi Esteban, Dr. Dennis Flores, city health officer, said the newly found infected are among the returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who are from Samal and were stranded in Manila after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) caught up with them in the
National Capital Region.
With this unwanted development in the island city, we could sense the seriousness of the appeal of Mayor Al David Uy to his returning constituents to be honest about declaring their health conditions so that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent them from becoming the dreaded carrier of the
virus.
Even if IGaCoS is now under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the youthful mayor reminded that there is no relaxing in the imposition of various health protocols to prevent the further spread of the invisible enemy.
Among these are the mandatory wearing of face mask, social distancing, imposition of curfew in the entire city, and the continuation of the liquor ban. All these are regressions to the primary economic activities in the city – tourism and its related businesses.
With such measures, the mayor appears to be doing a “crucifixion” of the economy of his city in his admonition for every resident and tourist to comply with the mandated measures.
We are certain that Mayor Uy knows that every time he adds more teeth to the adopted protocols, he is also tightening the squeeze on the inlet of the city’s purse. So, we feel that in his most recent pronouncements, his decision to put a premium on the health of the people over the financial health of
his city is already clear.
It could be a hard decision indeed. But the mayor is biting the bullet.
