Agatha Christie’s short stories revolved on this question.
Sherlock Holmes would ask Dr. Watson this question before discussing with him
the clues about a mysterious murder. A US television network challenges its
audience to guess who among the casts would turn out to be the mysterious
killer in a series which appropriated the question as its title: Whodunnit? Who’s the mysterious killer?
For more than three days, heavy rains have shattered many lives
in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces. Nature has unleashed its wrath.
Perpetual unpreparedness left many people without homes and properties. Helplessness
is everywhere. Hope becomes elusive. Everyone had looked up to heaven for
relief but the sun did show itself ‘till it’s late.
Water is everywhere. People are wondering where all the
water have come from. Some have stopped singing and promised not to do so ever
again. Others consulted Mr. Google for answer and eventually found out what
scientists have said about climate change—“this must be it,” they said. A few
others had put the blame to a missing pork lady while the simple mind had
considered the tragedy simply as the wrath of a typhoon.
Flood had conquered all. It had displaced many people and
had stopped students from going to school. It had destroyed the crops and
wasted capitals and investments. It had ruined people’s lives again.
The question of who should be responsible for losses due to
calamities is becoming inevitable. Calamities and the sufferings that they
bring have been recurring. The losses seem to get bigger as our unpreparedness
seems to get worse as time passes by.
In law, natural calamities and disasters are considered as
an Act of God. Nobody bears responsibility for losses incurred due to an Act of
God. Nevertheless, this principle comes with a known exception. The Act of God doctrine does not apply if
there is negligence on the part of anyone—whether before, during or after the
natural calamity—which facilitates or aggravates the injuries or damages
suffered by victims. Responsibility for compensation falls on any person who
serves as the proximate cause of the damages and injuries sustained.
Anyone who had aggravated the
inJuries and lossess suffered by the people, whether by official or private
omission, should be held accountable. This is where the question lies: whodunnit?
Government planners pinpointed to the squatters whose
shanties and garbage continue to block the flood ways. It’s their fault; thus,
they should bear their own loss. They had done it!
On the other hand, the poor blamed the government for doing
nothing to avert the disaster or to at least cushion its impact. Politicians
should be blamed for not putting their feet where their mouth is. They are
remiss of their jobs. They had done it!
Meanwhile, some experts put the blame on past and present
generations for wasting and destroying the environment. Shame! People have
acted like masters over things that they do not own. People had done it!
Indeed, fingerpointing is difficult since anybody who would
accuse anyone risks being blamed for the same conduct also. It leaves us with
more questions and lesser clues on whodunnit.
