The situation got worse when text messages, supposedly based on a military intelligence report, circulated here, claiming that a suicide bomber was en route here from Cotabato City on board a green Mitsubishi Lancer.
"While others are happy about what happened to the most notorious leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, we are still afraid that the group’s remnants would retaliate, leading to the killing of innocent civilians like what happened to my brother-in-law," said Dominga Pascua.
Pascua’s brother-in-law, tricycle driver Florante Pascua, 54, was killed on the spot during the April 21, 2001 explosion at the Fitmart Mall.
Felimon Pascua, 70, recalled that Florante, his younger brother, worked overtime that fateful Sunday so he could buy a pair of shoes for his daughter, Dinalyn, who was getting married that month.
"When the powerful explosion happened, my younger brother was parking (his tricycle) in front of the mall to pick up passengers. He was standing less than a meter from a trisikad where the bomb was planted," Felimon said.
Felimon said he felt relief when he learned that 22 Abu Sayyaf members, including their three notorious leaders — Commanders Robot, Global and Kosovo — were killed during the police assault at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig when they refused to give up peacefully.
"But if (you) plan to sow terror again, especially in our city, please do not involve innocent civilians like us because your actual enemy is the government," Felimon appealed to Abu Sayyaf members who may be planning to retaliate.
Picner Pascua, Florante’s nephew and himself a tricycle driver, said the government did what was only right for the Abu Sayyaf members.
But he added: "We have to double our efforts to (protect) ourselves because I am sure they (will retaliate)."
Ricky Gonzales, a survivor of the last Valentine’s Day bombing here, also supported the government assault on the Abu Sayyaf members.
Gonzales, who was hit by shrapnel in the head and right leg, said he was picking up passengers in front of Gaisano Mall when the bomb went off.
Belinda Sales-Canlas, a local columnist and corporate affairs officer of the National Transmission Corp. here, also said the government did just right.
"They violated jail rules. (They apparently) hastened the litigation process by their action," said Canlas, whose engineer-husband, Gary, also survived the Feb. 14 bombing.
Businessman Bong Adam said that after the death of his wife, Ruchma, a Maguindanaoan real estate broker, in last Dec. 12 blast in the city’s public market, he initially thought of buying firearms to avenge her killing.
But Adam said he changed his mind and instead decided to continue his wife’s business "so I can have money to support the studies of our children."
He said his wife, who was killed on the spot, was buying meat for their dinner in the public market when the blast occurred.