DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 December) – The Mindanao State University (MSU) has suspended classes and other academic activities in its main campus in Marawi City “until further notice,” following the explosion during the early Sunday morning Catholic mass at the Dimaporo Gymnasium that left at least four dead and 42 others injured.
Three died inside the gymnasium while one was pronounced dead at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center where the injured were rushed.
In a statement posted on its social media page, the MSU System said it deployed additional security personnel to safeguard the campus and is working closely with the local government units and law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice,
The bombing happened shortly before 8 a.m. on December 3, the first Sunday of Advent for Christians and the fourth day of the Mindanao Week of Peace, an inter-religious annual celebration.
The MSU said it is deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence and condemned in the strongest possible terms “this senseless and horrific act.”
It assured the families of victims that they are “committed to providing support and assistance to those affected by this tragedy.”
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all constituents, particularly our Christian community. We are aware of the heightened sensitivities and concerns that arise from such a tragic event, and we want to assure everyone that we are taking every measure possible to protect our students, faculty, and staff,” it said.
It vowed to “stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy” and “will not be deterred by this act of violence.”
“We will continue to work towards building a more peaceful and just MSU community.”
It also stressed that violence “has no place in a civilized society, and it is particularly abhorrent in an institution of higher learning like MSU, a bulwark of peace, harmony, solidarity, reverence for life and humanity.”
“This attack is an assault on our core values and our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive community for all,” it said.
MSU’s main campus was spared by the IS-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups that laid siege on Marawi on May 23, 2017 and prompted then President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law all over Mindanao. Duterte declared Marawi “liberated from the terrorist influence” on October 17, 2017 and then Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana terminated all combat operations in the city on October 23, 2017 or exactly five months later. Martial Law, however, was extended thrice, until December 31, 2019.
Despite the ongoing war a few kilometers away, classes resumed at the main campus on August 22, 2017.
An act of sheer terror, plain and simple terrorism, purely evil
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation “to swiftly bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice” and vowed the full support and cooperation of the Bangsamoro Government to ensure those responsible “are held accountable for their wicked actions.”
“In this moment of grief and shock, let us come together as a community, embracing one another with compassion and solidarity,” Ebrahim said, adding it is through unity and collective resolve that they will overcome the challenges and continue to strive for a peaceful and cohesive Bangsamoro.
He urged everyone to “remain vigilant and report to authorities any suspicious activities or personalities in your areas.”
“Let us stand together in upholding peace and promoting understanding among all communities in our region. Let us reject violence and all forms of extremism, and work tirelessly towards a future where safety, justice, and tolerance prevail,” he said.
In a statement, Bangsamoro Local Governments Minister Naguib Sinarimbo noted that an attack on a religious gathering within an academic institution during the Mindanao Week of Peace is “an act of sheer terror.”
“We denounce this heinous act of terrorism,” he said as he demanded justice for the victims.
“We pray that this incident does not jeopardize our efforts to maintain peace in Mindanao and does not taint the progress of the peace process in the Bangsamoro,” Sinarimbo added.
He urged the MSU community and Marawi residents to “remain calm but vigilant” as authorities conduct a thorough investigation.
“This attack is purely evil,” said Drieza Lininding, convenor of the Marawi-based Moro Consensus Group. He said MSU was spared during the 2017 Marawi Siege. “And now? For what? A thorough investigation must be done,” he said.
“Let us be vigilant but not vigilantes”
House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman, who served as Governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from December 2011 to February 2019, said the bombing was “plain and simple terrorism.”
“Wala na tayong ibang salita para ilarawan ang karahasan na ginawa sa mga estudyanteng payapang nagdadaos ng misa kanina, isang malayang pagpapahayag ng kanilang relihiyon” (There are no words to describe the violence inflicted on students who were peacefully attending mass this morning, in accordance with their freedom of religion).
In Filipino, Hataman said there is no place for violence in a civilized society and the perpetrators should be made accountable and that he condoles with the families of the victims.
“Our children should not be targets of violence. Our schools are not battle zones. Our parents must be assured of their children’s safety inside campus,” Hataman said in Filipino.
He called on authorities to leave no stone unturned. “The perpetrators should be unmasked,” he said.
Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Amir Mawallil noted that the fact that the bombing “happened during a Catholic mass celebrated by students is even more appalling” because the perpetrators targeted a place of worship and bombed a place inside an institution of learning.
MSU, he said, is “home to both Muslims and Christians alike” and students “should not be living in fear inside our schools, colleges and universities.”
“This is the sad reality that we need to address,” the MP said as he offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He urged the Bangsamoro police to “thoroughly investigate this case and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA), previously known as International Alert Philippines, said it is “too early to draw conclusions or to point fingers towards any individual or group.”
“Instead let us act together to ease the sorrow of the victims’ families and the pain of the wounded and traumatized,” the CCAA said is it called for “calm and reflection amidst attempts to polarize the situation and sow the seeds of a Muslim-Christian conflict.”
“Our Early Response Network (ERN) has already reported an alarming rise in calls for revenge and hate speech on the ground and social media. Let us be vigilant but not vigilantes,” it said, (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)