|
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
US nat'l among 19 killed in Davao blast; mayor vows more arrests
DAVAO -- A US national was among the 19 people who were killed when a powerful bomb exploded at the Davao International Airport Tuesday, as police arrested "several men" in connection with the deadly bombing that also injured over a hundred others, reports said.
Witnesses said the powerful explosive ripped through the waiting shed in the airport, which was full of people waiting for the arrival of a Cebu Pacific flight, just as the plane was heading for the terminal area.
Bombs also exploded at the Ecoland Bus Terminal, also in Davao City, and outside a government building in Tagum City, just minutes after the blast at the airport.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Mindanao Area Police Office Chief Edgardo Aglipay called on Davao City residents to remain calm, saying the government was on top of the situation.
In Manila, President Arroyo condemned the deadly airport bombing as a "brazen act of terrorism that will not go unpunished."
"The killing is a cowardly crime not only against the Filipino people but against humanity itself."
She called for an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (Cocis) Tuesday night where she directed the police and the military to set up a joint command in Davao whose task would be to hunt down the suspects.
Her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said police informed Arroyo that they have "already several men in custody being interrogated for committing these murders."
Secure area
Three American nationals were also among the 144 persons who were injured when bomb exploded at the airport at 5:15 p.m., said Bunye.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied involvement in the attack and rebel group spokesman Eid Kabalu said they were willing to be investigated by authorities to prove they had nothing to do with the attack.
The explosion also damaged the Air Philippines Office and the DIA post office in the terminal building.
A witness told police he noticed a suspicious-looking man leave a backpack at the shed seconds before the bomb exploded.
The blast left the 20 square-meter airport waiting shed littered with bodies and blood. The middle portion of the shed's roof was blown away by the impact of the explosion.
Rushed to the Davao Medical Center were about 90 victims, including the 17 persons who died on the spot. Two more victims died while they were being treated at the hospital, raising the death toll to 19.
Mayor Duterte, who was at the terminal when the explosion occurred as he was on his way to Manila with Aglipay immediately ordered police to secure all vital installations in the city.
He also directed 73rd Infantry Battalion commander Eduardo del Rosario to send his troops to the city to help secure the area from other attacks.
Before daybreak
At the meeting of the Cocis in Manila, President Arroyo directed Interior Secretary Joey Lina and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to leave for Davao to ensure that her orders were implemented to the ground.
She also expressed her condolences to the victims of the blast.
Bombs also exploded Tuesday at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City and near the local health office in Tagum City. There were no casualties in the blast at the terminal while one person was killed in the explosion in Tagum.
Aglipay said police were now tracking down the suspects in the airport bombing and hoped to get them in the shortest possible time.
Duterte said he is confident that before daybreak on Wednesday, the suspects will already be in the custody of police.
"We have suspects and we are running after them. There are witnesses and hopefully, we can get the suspects using the information we have," added Aglipay.
Aglipay said the explosive was an improvised bomb but added its fragments had to be examined to determine just what kind of device it was.
He said he was ordered by PNP Chief Hermogenes Ebdane to stay in the city "to supervise the investigation and also see to it that security is in place not only in Davao but also in other Mindanao areas."
Isolated case
Like Duterte, Aglipay also urged the public to be vigilant and to immediately report to police any suspicious-looking men in their areas.
He said the police and the military were on top of the situation.
"This is an isolated case and I think the police and military can put everything in order by getting the suspects and bringing them to the bar of justice," he said.
Duterte, from the airport, made the rounds at the hospitals where he assured the victims that government would take care of their hospital bills.
"As soon as the sun will rise in the east, justice will be done," Duterte repeated.
MILF's Kabalu, meanwhile, said guerrilla offensives were continuing against the military but that the rebel group had a policy of not targeting civilians.
"We are willing to coordinate with any investigation for the purpose of determining the real cause of this (airport) bombing," Kabalu added.
"We want this investigated, if they need our participation, we are willing to find out who is behind this attack." Sun.Star Davao/With AFP
List of those wounded:
Efren Balnoda
Jesfer Angelo
Elmer Dagala
Restito Amparado
Margie Elivera
Christopher Cabahug
Milo Caņete
Gregorio Pusta
Pusta Jr.,
Edgar Sharona
Benjamin Pasiol
Rosario Laborte
Victor Sabella
Edcel Adapon
Ducky John Barcenan
Christine Diamante
Ferdinand Valdez
Ruel Tulibas
Maxime Paguirigan
Adriane Lumanda
Wilfredo Hatulan
Danilo Agres
Miguel Alcaria
Bb girl
Clarie Matt C.
Fedre Edzel Mangaron
Mr. Abugan
Danilo Alquerez
Anly April Sabitsana
BB Boy
Elizier Lumanda
Laura Gruber Gutang
Imedla Gruber Salazar Gutang
BB 1
Sandigan Rivera
Elena Lumanda
Rodolfo Lumanda
Roda Artiaga
Jenny Fabie
Nilo Meking
Montasier Sudang
Eulanda Maunas
Baņanola Alexis
Sheen Star Labato
Raul Pajaron
Roy Soriano
Nelson Sabedo
Allan Bigcas
Benjamin Pasciol
Richard Asgare
Rene Maunas
Lemuel Tumanda
Anita Cantoneros
Restituto Amparada
Leo Goc-ong
BB 3
Rodolfo Dianon
Alfaras Jones
BB 2
Marites Rapas
Edna Magsumbol
Delfin Casas
Elizabeth Dianon
Rowena Juan
Baagid Sudang
Laurence Pugata
Labireth Paguirigan
Annabelle Fernandez
Wilfredo Hatulan
Rosalinda Gutang
Pepito Saturnino.
List of fatalities:
Arman Picar (former RP boxing champion, of Matina)
Cayetano Calisa Jr (security guard, of Davao Oriental)
Lowedie Marilao (student at Mats College and Technology, of Lacson St.)
Barrio Obrero
Samuel Ramos, 44 (of Panacan)
Darwisa Lafuente, 36 (of R. Castillo, Agdao)
Kenneth Rasay (student at the Ateneo de Davao University)
Cecelia Aligato (of Matina)
Felimon Lantapon, 58 (of Malagamot, Panacan)
Julius Maunas (DMMS student, of Mandug)
Leonardo Laboste (of GSIS Subd., Matina)
Celeste Arota
Names of eight others have yet to be verified
12 killed in fresh MILF-gov't clashes
Power outages loom after Mindanao blackout
Arroyo gives military 90 days to get Sayyaf
(March 5, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
|
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Five MILF men held as US offers to help track bombers