I have not felt this paranoid since I arrived here four years ago. There are news of kidnapping everyday in the city. Last week there were three teachers abducted in Sakol island. There were text messages being passed around containing plate numbers of white vans that supposedly are the kidnappers. There was an Ateneo student abducted in broad daylight released two days after giving a ransom of 10,000 pesos. Yesterday a teacher was abducted while trying to ride a tricycle. There are text messages now regarding 48 armed MILF men ready to abduct medical personnel to treat their troops.
Amid all these, the mayor said there is nothing to fear and even berated an official of the Department of Education whose comment made it to the headlines that Zamboanga City is not safe for the reason that it will deter tourist and investors.
This city and its people seemed to have gotten used to the idea that kidnapping is just a normal thing and a necessary part of life. It goes away for sometime and then like lightning it strikes suddenly and it strikes anywhere. In the past the victims were just the rich elite but recently they can be anyone. The texters seem to know the kidnapers how come the police and the military cannot get them?
This culture has got to stop. The city is covered with fear and everyone is paranoid. This city has lived too long in the dark ages that the little rays of light of progress are extinguished as soon as it lands on its soil. I hope this situation gets in control soon.
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