Honasan: Speculations on series of killings may only intensify public panic

Sen. Gringo Honasan. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

Avoid making “premature conclusions” regarding the recent cases of murders to avoid further public panic, Senator Gregorio Honasan said on Tuesday.

“When everybody starts making premature conclusions, lalong nagpapanic yung mamamayan [all the more the public panics],” Honasan said in an interview.

The senator added that such killings are “not peculiar to law enforcement.”

“The skill, the technical capability, the equipment is available in the market… makakabili ka ng sniper rifle at makakabayad ka ng isang sniper kung may pera ka [you can buy a sniper rifle and you can pay a sniper if you have money.]” he continued.

Asked if the general public is still safe, he answered “yes, but you have to be careful… do not drop your guard.”

Honasan emphasized that “it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to determine the vulnerability of not only public officials, but also of people in the street.”

Guessing the motives behind the killings of elected officials is somewhat hard, Honasan said.

Honasan said that using the killings as pretext for the declaration of martial law is one theory but he refused to propagate such “conspiracy theory” because only those who came up with it will benefit.

“We don’t want to propagate the conspiracy theory…. ‘yung may pakana nito ‘yung mga magbebenefit [those who came up with it would benefit],” he said. Kristine Macasiray/INQUIRER.net intern /jpv