Duterte expects more terror attacks after Sultan Kudarat bombing

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expecting more terror attacks after the recent bombing incidents in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
“We just had about two explosions in one of the provinces in Mindanao… There [were] these two explosions, and we expect more. And I’m sure that your government, Israel government, would only be willing to help us,” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks on Tuesday at the Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national organization for medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank services.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said the President was accompanied by Philippine Red Cross Chairman Senator Richard J. Gordon, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, Interior and Local Government Officer-In-Charge Eduardo M. Año, and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Secretary Francis N. Tolentino.
During the President’s visit. the MDA took the chance to present its disaster response and rehabilitation strategies and equipment.
“I would like to thank MDA and this administration for giving us the demonstration. You got it right. The rescue was punctual and I would say that… the way you handled it, of course it could have been a product of several practices, but it shows that you are very efficient,” Mr. Duterte said.
Also in his speech, the President noted that “there’s a lot of terror attacks going on, not only here but all over the world and my country is no exception.”
Just five days after a bombing incident at a festival in Isulan last Aug. 28, another bomb exploded inside an internet café in the same municipality at around 7:30 p.m. last Sunday, Sept. 2. The attack left one person dead and 15 others injured.
In his meeting with Israeli President Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin on the same day, Mr. Duterte said: “It behooves Israel and the Philippines to cooperate more than ever to defeat one enemy, which I think could never disappear within the next ten years.”