Security sector, MNLF call for cooperation in bringing Davao City back to its feet

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 7): Security sector, MNLF call for cooperation in bringing Davao City back to its feet 

Members of the response and the security sector and the local members of the Moro National Liberation Front are hard press to bring back normalcy to the city’s peace and order following the explosion of an improvised explosive device at the night market along Roxas Avenue Friday night.

Brig. General Casiano Monilla, assistant commander of the 10th Infantry Division has ordered the Task Force Davao to improve its inspection on the entry points to the city particularly in Barangay Sirawan, Toril, Barangay Lacson, Calinan and Barangay Ilang, Tibungco to ease the traffic of people and vehicles.

He appealed to the public to cooperate in the security checks and to bear the inconvenience brought about by the inspection.

“I instructed the Task Force Davao to increase the number of inspectors in the entry points and to ensure lesser time during inspections,” Monilla said.

He also urged the public to be calm and vigilant by reporting to Task Force Davao and the police through calling 911,  suspicious characters, baggage left unattended, and even bomb threats so that the they can act accordingly.

Monilla also revealed the official relief of Colonel Henry Robinson as commander of the Task Force Davao.

He said he will be replaced by Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri in a turn-over ceremony that will be held in September 8.

Senior Superitendent Valeriano De Leon, deputy director for operations of the Police Regional Office 11 and chief of the Special Investigation Task Group: Night Market confirmed the use of a 60 mm mortar round and 81 mm mortar round molded as one improvised explosive device in the blast last Friday night.

He said the IED was placed inside a bag and left deliberately by the perpetrator on the pavement.

De Leon said other government agencies composed of the police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the military are helping pursue leads in their investigation.

He said one of the parts of the IED used was recovered in the body of one of the victims, resembling a part of a 60mm mortar round.

De Leon said further post blast investigation revealed that a bigger ring of an 81 mm mortar was also recovered by the investigators.

“We are certain that there is one IED composed of two containers of mortars from 60 mm and 81 mm concealed in one bag,” he said.

De Leon said they are still determining the identity of the perpetrators and the motive behind the incident.

Erna Sampiano, head of the disaster risk reduction and management unit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI  said that the blast resulted to 14 deaths and 69 injured.

She said burial assistance at P10,000  and medical assistance at P5,000 were provided to the victims.

“Many victims are gradually coming out since a lot of them experience body malaise, hearing impairment and trauma,” Sampiano said.

She said families of victims may come to their office so that their needs are attended accordingly.

Sampiano revealed three of those killed hailed from Cotabato City, one from Caraga, one from Compostela Valley and one from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and the rest were residents of Davao City.

Rolando Ulamit, chair of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Faction said their members are monitoring movement of people passing through the coast line of the city.

He stressed that the night market blast was never a handiwork of a follower of Islam.

“Let us all bring the normalcy to the city. Let us be aware but don’t panic,” Ulamit said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2381473236410/security-sector-mnlf-call-for-cooperation-in-bringing-davao-city-back-to-its-feet-