On Saturday afternoon, September 3, more than a thousand Davaoeños and local officials gather along Roxas avenue to light candles and offer flowers and prayers for the victim of the blast on Friday night. (Maria Patricia C. Borromeo/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY—– Members of the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) across the country held a nationally-coordinated candle lighting ceremony on Saturday afternoon, September 3 to express solidarity with Davao and to demand justice and show sympathy for the victims of the deadly explosion incident.
The candle-lighting ceremony was held in four different cities across the country, namely: Plaza Miranda in Manila, Plaza Zoleta Rotunda in Iloilo, Fountain of Justice in Bacolod and Calle Colon in Cebu City.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the September 2 bombing of a night market in Davao City that claimed the lives of at least 14 people and injured 67. Nothing can justify the killing of unarmed civilians,” said Renato M. Reyes, Jr. Bayan secretary general in a statement on Saturday, September 3.
He said the attack on the busy marketplace was apparently timed with the President’s presence in Davao City.
“The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be swiftly brought to justice. We extend our condolences and offer solidarity with the people of Davao City during this most difficult time,” said Reyes.
As of posting, death toll now stands at 14 while more than 60 others were injured and presently recuperating in various hospitals in the city.
The deadly blast that rocked Davao last Friday night, September 2 at the city’s popular night market located at Roxas street has triggered President Rodrigo Duterte to put the entire country under a state of lawlessness after he visited the explosion site around 4:00 a.m
Memorial for the terror victims
On Saturday, a memorial service for the victims of the deadly explosion was held around 4:00 pm at the site where a still unknown “improvised explosive device” went off in Roxas street, this city.
The memorial service was led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. A mass was also celebrated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles.
Those who attended the memorial service expressed their sympathies and prayed for the terror victims. They offered flowers, lit candles and held placards calling for swift justice—a moment that was very emotional yet very symbolic for the people of Davao.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of those who died last night. I would also like to reassure all of them, as well as the families of those who are injured that the City Government of Davao will assist in all their needs for hospitalization, burial, funeral and day to day expenses,” Duterte-Carpio said in a statement.
“I am sorry for what happened,” she added.
Mayor Duterte has urged the people of Davao to “unite and stand now” after the incident.
“We will not be terrorized by this heinous crime and I call on all Dabawenyos to unite and let us help each other rise from this senseless incident. Let us remain vigilant, please report any and all suspicious activity, no matter how insignificant it may seem,” she said.(davaotoday.com)
