Tarlac shooting: But what about the neighbors?

The double murder last Dec. 20 in Paniqui, Tarlac, that unfolded before our eyes on social media was stomach-turning. And as we watched the clip — for some out of curiosity — we were actually shot at, too.

The neighbors who merely watched and stood back while the argument ensued should assume collective responsibility. The people around did nothing much to prevent the crime, considering that there was time to do so, from the moment the argument started to the time it ended with two people dead.

While it’s true that the neighbors and bystanders can’t be blamed for the action of the assailant, they will have to carry in their conscience the heavy weight of not having done anything to stop the crime.

Philippine National Police chief Debold Sinas is pushing for anger management training for policemen, but I think the public can also benefit from a seminar on what needs to be done in situations like this.

For example, knowing how to access emergency numbers and how to negotiate and persuade a gun-wielding person from firing. Although it has been said that a man with a gun can control hundreds without it, this doesn’t mean, however, that he should just fire and kill them all.

With calculated actions and presence of mind, neighbors and members of the public in general can help prevent crimes, and even death. We just need to be alert and be willing to do something.

Let this double murder in Tarlac pave the way for a policy shift in giving the public knowledge on self-protection, reporting protocols, etc. If we want to stop crimes, we need to educate the public on what to do.

CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA, DM
[email protected]