Danger signs

“In any city in the world, danger can be lurking around.

On our last night in Toulouse, we made our way on foot back to our hotel from a tapas bar at the Place du Capitole.

Because rain had started to pour, we walked as fast as we could, guided by Google Maps. Some lagged behind, hampered by wet cobblestones.

When we finally reached the hotel, the others were nowhere in sight. They had taken another wrong turn and ended up in what one of them described as a “rough” neighborhood where they were approached by a man offering “a smoke.” At one point, a car also slowed to a stop beside them. Nervous, they hurried away. We all heaved a sigh of relief when they finally got in, 20 minutes after we did. An “adventure,” we said, but we knew how fortunate we were to have been spared from harm.

Indeed, in any city in the world, danger can be lurking around even in places that seem quiet and practically deserted. These days, it can sometimes feel like anything can happen — a volatile energy in the air, barely contained.

Even our peaceful islands have not been spared by this insidious air.

For instance, the recent attacks on priests and local officials have disturbed us enough to wonder if there could be more behind the rash of killings.

Opposition blames it on President Rodrigo Duterte’s own volatility, which sometimes causes him to spout words not generally considered politically correct, let alone statesman-like.

Human rights watchdogs are concerned that his drug war may be “emboldening assailants,” as one article called it such.

Police denied any connection between the killings, obviously an effort to allay fears among citizens.

But the slaying of three mayors one after the other is food for thought: the fact that the murders were done so brazenly and consecutively bears dangerous implications.

It could mean corruption still has its fangs embedded so deeply that radical moves have to be made to take it out of our system forever.

It could mean the law and order situation is worsening. It could mean Duterte’s vow to stamp out crime and corruption using threats to kill isn’t working as well as he thought. It could mean the police aren’t as effective as it would wish.

It could mean danger truly lurks everywhere, even within institutions that we expect to be strong and steady.

It could mean this administration is on to something when it cracks down on erring officials by lessening their power over the police force.

It may also not mean any of these — and we can argue all we want about injecting politics into everything — but it is not something that can simply be shot into oblivion.