Cotabato City mayor condemns New Year’s Eve mall blast

DAVAO CITY— Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi condemned the bombing incident on Monday in front of a mall in Cotabato City, saying it is another act of terror.

“I strongly condemn the bombing incident that happened in front of South Seas Mall today, a day before the New Year, the took away several innocent lives and injured dozen others,” Guiani-Sayadi said in a statement on Monday.

“This is not just another terroristic act but an act against humanity. I cannot fathom how such evil exists in this time of merry making of our fellow Cotabatenios,” she added.

READ: Blast rocks firecracker stalls in front of Cotabato SouthSeas Mall

The explosive went off around 2 p.m. in front of the South Seas Mall along Don Rufino Alonzo Avenue as Cotabato City shoppers are in a holiday rush in time for New Year celebration.

The blast injured at least eight individuals including a four-year-old girl, according to police authorities.

Reported injured were: Bai Sandra Ayunan, 16; Kutin Sedik, 65; Hamida Solaiman, 21; Joey Api, 31; Aida Dalandag, 58; Tarhata Biruar, 43; and N0rlyn Biruar, 4.

The local chief executive also vowed that the people of Cotabato would stand tall against terrorism.

“It is unimaginable how some people can start the New Year with an act of cruelty, but no matter how you threaten us, the people of Cotabato City are resilient and we are stronger than how you think we are,” Guiani-Sayadi stressed.

“We will stand up against terrorism. We will fight against evil,” she added.

Meanwhile, the militant Moro group Suara Bangsamoro said that peace in Cotabato City has been tested in the run-up to the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL)

“We cannot help but be indignant of the way that peace in Cotabato City has been tested, as people are preparing weeks before the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). As in [our] previous experience, the bombing only justifies Duterte’s imposition of Martial Law and the military take over of Moro areas,” Jerome Aba, speaking for Suara Bangsamoro told Inquirer in a phone interview.

“We pray for the fast recovery of those wounded and hope that the perpetrators will be apprehended,” Aba added. /ee