A BOMB exploded in General Santos City on Sunday morning, Sept. 16, wounding seven, according to a radio report.
Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) in this city reported on Sunday afternoon that seven persons were injured after a bomb went off at 11:45 a.m. “in front of the Bonita Lying-In Clinic” at the Crossing Makar National Highway in Barangay Apopong.
Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s explosion that hit General Santos City which left scores of people injured. This comes at an unfortunate time when the nation is reeling from the effects of (Super-Typhoon) Ompong.”
“Authorities are now conducting an investigation. We vow to bring the perpetrators of this brazen attack to justice,” he added.
In a televised interview, Eliseo Rasco, Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 director, said: “Kausap ko ‘yung ating task force commander ng Task Force GenSan, tinatanong ko sa kanya ano pa ba ang pagkukulang natin?” (I talked to the Task Force GenSan commander. I asked him where else did we go wrong.)
“Despite na ‘yung checkpoints na ginagawa natin, lahat na halos ng personnel, pinababa na namin dito, eh ano pa ba ang pagkukulang natin?” Mr. Rasco also said. (Despite the checkpoints and all the personnel that we deployed here [in GenSan], what else have we not done?)
As for the suspect, he said: “Most likely nandito lang ‘yun. Hindi naman natin syempre makuha agad ‘yung identification….” (Most likely, [the suspect] is still here. Of course, we can’t identify him right away.)
Mr. Rasco said the public should “be more vigilant” this time, especially that it is now the third bombing incident in Region 12 since last month, after two previous explosions in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
He said: “Ang mensahe ko lang sa publiko, paulit-ulit ko nang sinasabi ito na maging vigilant tayo. Admittedly, hindi talaga ito kaya ng security forces alone. We need the help of the community. Kapag may nakita tayo, suspicious na tao, suspicious na bagay, please report to us….” (My message to the public, I have been saying this repeatedly that we have to be vigilant. Admittedly, the security forces cannot do this alone. We need the help of the community. If you see someone or something suspicious, please report to us.) — Arjay L. Balinbin

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