Manny Pacquiao the candidate came out guns ablaze in accusing his opponents of masterminding the ?ambush me? and ?bomb me? incident early in the week to reportedly gain sympathy.
His shot-first-before-asking-question is a pathetic advice from his political and media advisers.
Granting the reportedly failed ambush attempt on outgoing Glan Mayor Enrique Yap Jr late Sunday evening and the botched roadside bombing on the convoy of Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez were scripted as Manny claimed, the least that he should have done was to condemn the failed attacks and to seek a thorough investigation on the twin incidents.
No one should be allowed to put one?s life in danger at the expense of anyone or for the price of victory ? during a political exercise that is the election.
Manny should have weighed his statement carefully and thoughtfully considered the implications of his conclusion.
If by chance it happened to him, would Manny be happy to hear accusations that he conjured the scenario to win more votes?
Dominguez him self never pointed as to who would have planted the improvised explosive devise that narrowly missed him.
The governor admitted that there have been threats made on his life even before the elections but carefully made no direct accusation against his political opponents.
What is disturbing is Manny?s reported offer to provide legal assistance, through his lawyer, to the five suspects who were caught with an M16 Armalite rifle and a .45 caliber pistol Sunday evening while trailing the convoy of Yap, estranged brother of James Yap who is running for mayor in Glan under Manny?s ticket.
Manny said that one of the vans used by the suspects, whom Mayor Enrique Yap alleged were planning to ambush him, was just rented from his brother in law when it was confirmed that it was registered under the name of his wife Jinkee.
The driver of the Toyota Hi-Ace owned by Jinkee said he was flagged down by the suspects while on his way home.
Was he alone, when the suspects flagged him down and pointed their guns on him?
Were the suspects really unknown to the driver or were they there to provide him security if not for a more sinister purpose?
Or is it true that the driver and the suspects were seen at the house of a known Manny supporter in Margus, Glan earlier in the night?
Was the Glan incident related to the roadside bombing?
I seriously doubt Dominguez would stage-manage the botch bombing. For one, he is way ahead of his rival Juan Domino, the gubernatorial bet of Manny’s People’s Champ Movement.
Second, the governor who is seeking re-election has no history of political violence – electoral or otherwise since joining politics.
Third, it is out of his character.
Can those be said of Manny and the people surrounding and advising him?
