They also urged authorities to consider other angles like politics, sabotage to the peace in the investigation considering that the Moro are usual suspects of bombing incidences.
“Our organization condemns the bombings which [are] act[s] of evil people. We must consider also that there exist groups [which] do not want the ongoing peace process (GRP-MILF) to succeed and the election is fast approaching,” said Abdul Mutalib Esmael, president of the group, Sulu-Basilan-Tawitawi Umpukan in General Santos City, an organization of Yakans and Tausugs in this city.
Baibon Sangid, chairperson of the Young Moro Professionals Network said the bombings “are desperate act[s] of insanity designed to scare people.”
“The Moro people must be ready because the government shall attribute to them (Moro) this incidence,” she warned, adding that these “may be part of the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) tactics.” The YMPN is the biggest association of young Moro professionals in the country with almost 200 members.
A Kaagan tribe youth leader, Salem Demuna from Davao del Norte, described the incident as a “justification of the presence of terrorists.” Demuna chairs the Learned Kaagan Foundation in Davao del Norte.
The chairman of Muslim Supreme Council for Religious Affairs in this city, Sheikh Abdulbayan Laguialam said they also condemned the “killing of innocents in any means, whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he wages war against the Almighty.”
Sarangani PNP-Salam Council (SPNPSC), an organization of Moro leaders which support the provincial police in the maintenance of peace in the province said “those who did that are merciless people without religion,” according to its chairman, Hajji Usman Mudsol.
The spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace in the Philippines based in Cotabato City, William Banzali, said he hoped that the spate of bombings “won’t affect the ongoing peace talks between the GRP and the MILF”.
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) National Coordinator Hajji Gapol Hajirul said the MNLF has condemned “whoever are behind the recent spate of bombings”.
A former MNLF combatant and currently president of the Sarangani Peace and Development Advocates League, Commander Johnny Akbar said “ito’y gawain ng mga taong walang pakialam sa buhay ng iba (These are done by people who does not value others’ lives)”.
Tawi-tawi based Muslim Upliftment Foundation Inc., (MUFTI), chairperson Zarah Kathleen Ali also said the group “abhor such act of violence,” calling on the people “to pray for an end to hostilities”. Ali is the incumbent president of National Youth Parliament.
Engr Abdulgafur Kudarat and Jocelyn Lambac, president and vice president, respectively, of Young Moro Professionals Council-SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) respectively said, “our group also condemns this inhuman and barbaric act, and we pray that the innocent victims will get justice soon as possible.”
“I hope that the bombing incidents [are] not a move to turn the tide of public opinion against the Muslims here. It is a challenge for the Moro people to prove that they want real peace,” Lambac said.
The Sugoda Buayan Royal House (SBRH) called the bombers as “people who do not respect even themselves”.
“Despite all this atrocities, let’s remain sober and continue to trust each other, regardless of our religion or beliefs,” said Raja Muda Alimudin Hassan, head of SBRH.
Six persons died and 34 others were injured when a bomb exploded at the outlet of a national online lottery at the edge of Santiago Boulevard, outside the public market here.. An artist’s sketch of the suspect was released yesterday and described the suspect as between 5’7” to 5’8” tall man of medium built with an estimated age of 28 to 30 year old.
General Santos City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon has appealed for sobriety “that the people must not be carried away by fear and must face the recent incidence squarely”.
