Duterte visits N. Cotabato blast victims, assures justice will be served

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 25): Duterte visits N. Cotabato blast victims, assures justice will be served

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Showing his compassion to victims of violence, President Duterte personally showed up here to sympathize with victims of the Christmas Eve grenade attack that injured at least 17, including a police officer.

Scheduled for 1 p.m. the President's visit started when Presidential choppers arrived at about 4 p.m., motored to Aniceto Pesante Memorial Hospital and briefly talk to blast victims.

One of the blast victims said she had a very memorable and emotional meeting with the President, one thing that she never imagined meeting the country's most important person.

Cheyserr Rosete, 28, who was hit in the legs while standing outside the church, was grateful the President saw her. “He is very handsome, he looked at me straight in the eyes as he talked to me," the visibly elated Rosete told reporters after the President left.

"He is very mabait,” she added. Rosete said she was traumatized by the incident but after seeing the President "medyo ok na ako."

Jessa Banlawi said the mass was about to end when the explosion occurred. She too was happy she personally saw the President.

“He vowed the government will shoulder all our medical expenses,” Banlawi recalled the President as telling her. The President also handed over the blast victims with undetermined amount of medical cash assistance.

She said she wanted to have “selfie” with the President but his visit was quick. “His visit means so much to us blast victims.”

The President also received a security briefing from local and regional police officials and talked to local officials of Midsayap, led by Mayor Romeo Arania.

As he left the hospital, a huge crowd of Midsayapenios greeted the President in front of Pesante Hospital. “Duterte! Duterte!” the crowd chanted as the President emerged from the medical facility.
He went to the crowd and shake hands with them, especially elders greeting them “Merry Christmas” despite advises from his close-in security.

At least 17 persons were injured, including a police officer after two men riding tandem on motorbike tossed a hand grenade under a parked police car along Roosevelt Street.

Authorities believed the attack was intended for police forces who have been receiving threats from lawless elements and drug syndicates.

The grenade attack came as the Christmas Eve mass was in progress inside the Sto. Nino Archdiocesan Shrine at about 9:30 p.m..

Supt. Bernard Tayong, Midsayap town police chief, said investigation showed the attack could be a retaliatory attack after police successful anti-drug operation.

Tayong said several witnesses have come forward to share information after they saw the suspects hurriedly leaving the site after throwing the grenade.

Mayor Romeo Arania of Midsayap also believed the attack was not directed toward the church but for the police.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=950907