VP Sara calls for calm amid MSU bombing, investigation

Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos, particularly Mindanaoans, to remain calm while authorities investigate the Sunday morning bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU).

Duterte, who also serves as Education Secretary and Co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), condemned the bombing at the state university located in Marawi City, and expressed her condolences for the victims’ families.

“Ang mga nasawi at mga sugatan ay mga sibilyan. Nakakabahala na ito ay nangyari sa loob ng MSU compound sa isang Katolikong simbahan, sa isang bahagi ng bansa na may mahaba at madugong karanasan sa terorismo. Isa itong gawaing mapangahas ngunit malinaw rin sa atin na isa itong karuwagan,” she said in a video message.

(Those killed and wounded were civilians. It is disturbing that this happened inside the MSU compound in a Catholic church, in a part of the country with a long and bloody experience with terrorism. It was an outrageous move, but it’s also clear that it was an act of cowardice.)

The Vice President said that the nation must be strong amid the challenges and constant threat of terrorism, but at the same time be wary of any further attacks.

“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga Mindanaoan, na maging mahinahon habang nagsasagawa ng imbistigasyon ang mga otoridad. Gayunpaman, kailangan rin nating maging maingat at maging mapag-matyag upang mapigilan natin ang mga maaaring susunod pang atake sa mga sibilyan,” Duterte said.

(I call on all Filipinos, especially Mindanaoans, to be calm while authorities conduct their investigation. However, we also need to be careful and vigilant so that we can prevent future attacks against civilians.)

According to the Philippine Army 1st Infantry Division, 4 people were killed while several others were hurt after a blast occurred at the Dimaporo Gymnasium at MSU Sunday morning, during a Catholic Mass.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. also condemned the attack and vowed justice for the victims. — DVM, GMA Integrated News