The economy is one obvious casualty of the upsurge in lawlessness and the war against separatists in Mindanao - though the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last week accepted a government invitation to resume stalled peace talks. But cracks also are widening in the cabinet of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada over the mostly foreign hostages held by Abu Sayyaf on southern islands. In Manila, the hunt for perpetrators of at least three bombings within a week has yielded no shortage of suspects, but no results. This followed a shopping mall blast five days earlier in the heart of the financial district, in which 13 people were hurt. The same week, a rocket-propelled grenade nearly hit the official quarters of Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Panfilo Lacson.
Security is now tight.
Many blamed the MILF and Abu Sayyaf for the damage - including defense and military chiefs. But Lacson pointed to disgruntled military and police groups, which he said were trying to destabilize the government. Estrada's most trusted general, Lacson immediately sacked two superintendents in charge of intelligence. He also enlisted the services of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, which he chairs. We all know that there are elements in the military as well as the police who allow themselves to be used.