DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 October) – The city government will unveil Tuesday the memorial marker for the victims of the September 2 bombing at the city’s night market on Roxas Avenue that killed 15 people and injured 69 others.
The unveiling coincides with the 40th day since the blast.
In a press release issued by the City Information Office, City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will grace the unveiling of the memorial at 4 p.m. after a mass.
“The unveiling will gather and reunite the survivors and the families of those who were killed in the blast,” she said.
“We commit to forever remember the victims of the bombing on September 2… And we also commit to do everything possible to prevent or stop acts of terrorism from happening again,” she said.
She added the memorial, located right at the blast site, will be a place “for prayer, for peace, and remembrance.”
Three suspects identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabang, Wendell Facturan, and Musali Mustapha, alleged as members of the so-called Maute Group, were arrested in a checkpoint on October 4 in Cotabato City.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mayor Duterte-Carpio said the arrest was a welcome development to the effort of law enforcers.
“This development is commendable as we vow to expeditiously give justice to the 15 victims who died and the 69 others who were wounded in the blast,” she said.
She emphasized the arrest “should lead us to the dismantling of terror groups to foil more senseless acts of violence and extremism.”
“We also need to remember that this does not end our desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism on the night of September 2 in our beloved city,” she said.
She urged the public to be vigilant and show the world “we do not surrender to fear nor do we allow terrorism to cripple our humanity and undermine our values.” (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
