MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday condemned the “ruthless” bombing in Marawi City that left four people dead and 45 others injured.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University (MSU) and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning,” Marcos posted on X, formerly Twitter.
He said extremists who wield violence against the innocent would always be regarded as “enemies to our society.”
“I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the victims, their loved ones, and the communities that have been the target of this latest assault on peace,” he added.
Marcos has directed the police and military to ensure the protection and safety of civilians and the security of affected and vulnerable communities.
“Rest assured, we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice,” the Chief Executive said.
The national government is closely coordinating with the regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and concerned local governments, Marcos noted.
“I thank them for their swift and immediate response to the incident and for their ready support to the victims,” he said.
Marcos also appealed to the public to be circumspect as updates on the bombing continue to develop.
“As reports come in throughout the day, I enjoin all of us to remain calm, circumspect, and conscientious in our collective efforts to ensure that the horrific events of this morning are not further compounded by inaccurate, unvetted, and unofficial information,” he said.
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed condolences and said that the explosion inside the MSU gymnasium yesterday morning was a worrisome act of violence delivered by “cowards.”
“I call on all Filipinos, especially Mindanaoans, to be calm while the authorities conduct their investigation. We also need to be careful and vigilant so that we can prevent further attacks on civilians,” she said.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro condemned the “heinous act of terror” and gave assurance that “units on the ground have already heightened their security measures in and around Marawi City to prevent any further harm to the community.”
He added that the Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 and BARMM are on their way to Marawi City.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the bombing incident “shows the ruthless methods that these lawless elements will utilize to sow fear, anger and animosity among our people.”
Chorus of condemnation
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri called on “the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bangsamoro Autonomous government to leave no stone unturned in bringing justice to their loved ones and to restore the peace that we have worked hard to gain in Marawi over the past six years.”
“It is disheartening to see such violence play out in Marawi once again, years after the siege and well into a period of newfound peace,” he added, referring to the Marawi siege in 2017 by terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said: “The fact that this took place within a school, a place that should be a safe place for our students, teachers, and the community, makes it even more disturbing.”
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said: “At this moment of grief, let us reaffirm our commitment to peace and understanding, rejecting any form of violence and hatred that seeks to divide us.”
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said those responsible for the attack were “not Muslims nor Christians, they are terrorists!”
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said that “this kind of sowing violence when the Mindanao Week of Peace is still underway and as revenge allegedly by a terrorist group has no place in our society.”
Sen. Grace Poe said: “We stand with the Marawi people in condemning violence and preserving our hard-won feats toward peace and development in the region.”
Sen. JV Ejercito said that “terrorist attacks on educational institutions, such as the MSU, not only undermine the sanctity of places of learning but also pose a direct threat to our shared values.”
Sen. Imee Marcos said: “The historic injustice of Mindanao cannot be allowed to persist, nor should the horrific siege of Marawi ever be repeated.”
Sen. Nancy Binay called on “the PNP and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to step up their intelligence efforts and their fight against the presence of lawless elements, and groups that terrorize society.”
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said: “I condemn in the strongest terms the heinous and senseless act of bombing that targeted the MSU Dimaporo Gymnasium.”
Sen. Manuel Lapid said: “We appeal to our Muslim brothers and Christians in Mindanao to maintain calm and peace to prevent the situation from worsening in the region.”
Sen. Robinhood Padilla said: “I extend my condolences to the families of those who died, and my sympathies to those who were wounded.”
Sen. Bong Go said that “the function of terrorism is to terrorize people. If we allow ourselves to be terrorized, terrorists win. As such, we must remain united and should not allow this crime to trigger sectarian hatred and further animosity among Filipino people.
“Our brothers and sisters in Marawi have already emerged from the dark ashes of the Marawi Siege. We must not let another terrorist act derail efforts of achieving long-term peace and development in Marawi City, where people of different faiths have historically co-existed in harmony and mutual respect,” he added.
Mindanao lawmakers
Muslim legislators, including those who represent Christian communities in Mindanao, condemned the latest attack in the conflict-torn region.
Deputy Speaker Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Reps. Mujiv Hataman of Basilan and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City have underscored the need for justice for unsuspecting civilians who died as a result of the bombing of the Dimaporo Gymnasium in MSU.
“During these dark moments, it is essential for us to unite in solidarity, demonstrating that love and compassion can overcome hatred. Let us stand together as a community, providing solace and strength to one another as we mourn the senseless loss of life,” Adiong said.
“There are no other words that can describe such barbaric acts done to innocent students who just attended a mass peacefully,” Hataman said.
“This act of violence will not define us; instead, it will fortify our commitment to justice, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of a harmonious and inclusive society,” Rodriguez said. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda