Three bombings in major cities in Mindanao the past two weeks have baffled police and local officials as to who could be behind the incident and what could be the motive. But peace advocates say its 2003 all over again.
A day before the Cotabato City bombing, Sittie Rajabia and her husband, Elson, were joking after hearing a United States government advisory of an Al Qaeda threat.
By DAVAO TODAY Hanimay Suazo of Karapatan Southern Mindanao who was with the medical team coming from Davao said there was chaos as they wanted to talk to provincial government officials to calm down the situation, especially when the adults were contained later by the police away from the children awaiting them. “They still have not eaten, it was like they were placed in a concentration camp,” exclaimed Suazo.
In a text message to Davao Today, outgoing DCPO Chief Ronald dela Rosa said the city is placed in double alert, with checkpoints and security personal around the city on double time for heightened intelligence monitoring.
Davao has now 130 surveillance cameras installed around the city as part of the authorities’ measures to monitor safety, disaster and crime.