Schools to fly flag at half-mast for mall blast victims

Police investigators examine the site of an explosion at the South Seas Mall on New Year’s Eve in Cotabato City, Dec. 31, 2018. Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Divsion, says the bomb went off Monday near the entrance of the mall as people made last-minute preparations ahead of New Year celebrations killing two people and wounding 34 others. (Photo by RAINIER CANOSO / AP)

COTABATO CITY — Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi has asked public and private schools in this city to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast for five days starting Jan. 7 for the victims of the New Year Eve’s bombing at South Seas Mall that left two dead and 34 injured.

In a statement, Sayadi said the move would honor Jonathan Tasic Torribiano and Mariam Kali, who died in the blast, and to show solidarity with the 34 others who were hurt.

The flag in front of the city hall will fly half-mast from Monday to Friday, she said.

Torribiano and Kali succumbed to injuries following the 1:50 p.m. blast on Dec. 31 in front of the baggage area of South Seas Mall.

Another improvised explosive device was found and deactivated at the second floor of the mall.

The mall CCTV recorded two men placing the IED beside a lotto outlet.

Their images were made public Friday by the police, and the city government offered P500,000 for information leading to their arrest.

The military has blamed the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the blast and described it as “retaliatory attack” after four BIFF members were killed, including two foreigners, in a Dec. 22 military operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

One soldier was killed in that operation.

The BIFF, through its spokespersons, denied involvement in the mall explosion. /atm