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Friday, February 18, 2005
No need to declare state of emergency
By Ben O. Tesiorna
* Duterte says Mindanao officials could well handle the latest bombing incidents and there is no need for emergency powers to deal with terrorists
* Suspects in Ecoland terminal blast already identified
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte sees no need to place Mindanao in a state of emergency following a series of explosions that rocked the cities of Davao, General Santos and Makati on Valentine's Day.
The mayor appealed to Dabawenyos to give him ample time to run after the suspects behind the bombing of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal in Ecoland on February 14, which killed a 12-year-old boy and wounded seven others.
"Give us time, we will catch up with them," he vowed, adding that authorities have already identified the suspects. He, however, refused to divulge the group to which the suspects belong.
Duterte said Mindanao officials could well handle the latest bombing incidents in the cities of Davao and General Santos and that no additional emergency powers are needed to deal with the terrorists believed to be behind the bombings.
Malacañang earlier considered the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in Mindanao to give additional powers to the President in handling the latest terrorist attacks.
Duterte said they have already identified the suspects in the terminal blast and will arrest them in no time.
Asked if the 10-year-old boy who allegedly placed the bomb is still among the suspects, Duterte said the boy was positively identified by one of the witnesses.
He did not discount the possibility though that the minor could have just been requested to place the bomb without actually knowing its content.
Duterte has already ordered police and Task Force Davao to intensify inspection in terminals in Davao City and conduct mobile checkpoints.
On the other hand, bomb threats sent through text messaging plagued the city after the Ecoland terminal blast.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Sun.Star Davao received text messages saying the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) was bombed.
Aside from the DCNHS, the Sta. Ana Church, the Government Service Insurance System building in Matina, and the Victoria Plaza in Bajada, were also reportedly bombed.
All these reports were found out to be hoaxes when verified.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here.
(February 18, 2005 issue)
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