Business is good for criminals in Tagbilaran these days. While Christendom celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ who would preach love and righteous living, criminals are laughing all the way to the bank. Hitting while the iron is hot, burglars broke into the B&J Computers and Du Ek Sam Lesage branch while hold-uppers pulled off at least four capers including those on the Unitop deposit money worth P500,000 and the First Consolidated Bank Foundation withdrawal money amounting to P336,000.

The way the criminals delivered their message, it would seem as if the policemen were someplace else. There seems to be no stopping the criminals as they seem poised to strike again unless the authorities make the right moves. With the populace alarmed by the wanton disregard for authorities, everybody seems preoccupied with the business of trying to make sense of the situation. It even triggered a word war by Mayor Dan Lim on Councilor Jose Antonio Veloso who delivered a privilege speech that incensed the mayor. Tagbilaran is a city under siege. So what should be done at this point?

For starters, the police should come up with something. Arrests should be the most welcome piece of news. Unless the culprits are lined up at the police station with the rogues' gallery behind them, nothing said will assuage the people's fears. Obviously, the criminals are delivering the message that they are not afraid of anybody, not Lim or the police. They have also shown no respect for respect for God in their hearts as shown by their disregard for the celebration in His honor.

It does not take much to see that the police have their hands full. Undermanned and outmaneuvered, they have to deal with the laws that sometimes look like they favor the crooks. As if that is not enough, many times these felons are back in the street at no time partly because of loopholes in the justice system aided in part by contacts in the establishments. At this point, it becomes increasingly clear that the government and the law enforcers cannot do it on their own. They need civilian cooperation particularly in relaying information that would lead to the identities and arrests of the suspects.

Of course, no one can really discount the possibility of the activation of vigilantes that weeded out criminal elements from the streets of Davao and Cebu . These are extreme options that have come under fire from religious and human rights groups but which has become a way of life in places where crime holds sway. It may be too early for that in Tagbilaran. And yet, it might yet lead there unless people unite in fighting a common enemy that will devour them if they don't.