Blast snuffs out dream for good ‘media noche’

Experts inspect the blast site at the entrance of the Mlang public market a day after an improvised explosive device killed two people and wounded 33 others. WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA/INQUIRER MINDANAO

MLANG, North Cotabato—Kristine Sol Salo, one of the two fatalities in a bomb attack on the public market here on New Year’s Eve, was selling bread to earn extra money to buy food for media noche, a traditional family gathering to greet the coming year.

Instead of going home early, the 28-year-old Kristine had chosen to stay for a couple more hours at the public market, hoping to sell all her loaf bread, locally known as “cream bread,” before heading for home in Barangay Bialong here.

Kristine would have had more money to buy food for media noche. She had been able to buy bread for lower prices at a bakery where her husband works and sell these for a small profit.

The mother of three children ended up dead as an unidentified man planted the improvised explosive device near her stall.

Also killed in the blast was Zenaida Salo, Kristine’s 48-year-old sister-in-law, who was helping her sell bread.

The blast also wounded 34 other market vendors and customers—all busy buying food for media noche.

“All she wanted was to go home with goods for media noche and a little extra money,” said a relative of Kristine’s who rushed to the blast site after learning that Kristine had been killed.

Addressing the still unidentified culprits, the relative said: “You succeeded in your demonic act, but God will surely punish you in due time.”

It was the second bomb attack here after the Nov. 23 blast in a billiard hall near the town plaza that killed three teenagers and wounded 24 other persons.

On Tuesday, a suspect in the Nov. 23 bombing was arrested by police.

Mlang Mayor Joselito Pinol has ordered local police to tighten security in public markets, churches and bus terminals following the New Year’s Eve bomb attack.

Another official, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, condemned the attack.

In a statement issued hours after the blast, Mendoza said that while the provincial leadership is “exhausting all efforts in bringing these cowards” to justice, “I am asking the officials of Mlang to strengthen their resolve in protecting our people from further barbarism.”

“This act has no place in a civilized society. I reiterate our firm stand against any form of violence on our people,” the governor said. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao