Vice President Sara Duterte during an ambush interview at the sideline of National Childrens month celebration on November 28 in Taguig City. Noy Morcoso/ INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday strongly condemned the bombing of a gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, calling the attack an “act of cowardice.”
“Ang mga nasawi at mga sugatan ay mga sibilyan. Nakakabahala na ito ay nangyari sa loob ng MSU compound sa isang Katolikong simbahan — sa isang bahagi ng bansa na may mahaba at madugong karanasan sa terorismo,” the Vice President said.
(The fatalities and the injured are civilians. It’s alarming that this occurred within the MSU compound in a Catholic church — in an area of the country with a long and bloody history of terrorism.)
“Isa itong gawaing mapangahas ngunit malinaw rin sa atin na isa itong karuwagan,” she added.
(It was a bold move but it’s also clear to us that this is an act of cowardice.)
Amidst the incident, Duterte urged Filipinos, particularly the residents of Mindanao, to remain calm while authorities are conducting their investigations.
“Gayunpaman, kailangan rin nating maging maingat at maging mapagmatyag upang mapigilan natin ang mga maaaring susunod pang pag-atake sa mga sibilyan,” she continued.
(Nevertheless, we also need to be cautious and vigilant to prevent possible future attacks on civilians.)
Likewise, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, called the bombing a “barbaric act” which has “no room in a humane civilized, peaceful society.”
“Rest assured that the Marcos Administration will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to the bar of justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro gave assurance that government forces have heightened its security measures to ensure the safety of civilians.
“Rest assured that units on the ground have already heightened their security measures in and around Marawi City to prevent any further harm to the community. Our priority is to bring the perpetrators of this treacherous attack to justice and to thwart any further threats to our people,” Teodoro said in a statement.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed Mindanao on “full alert status” while placing the National Capital Region on heightened alert following the bombing incident in Marawi City.
READ: PH military on high alert after calling Marawi bombing terrorism
In a press briefing, PNP confirmed that four people have died while 50 were injured as a result of the attack.
The bombing at the university’s gymnasium coincided with the Mindanao Week of Peace which carried the theme, “Solidarity for Action: A World Without Violence.”
Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to bring the perpetrators of the bombing to justice.