MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) — The Palace on Sunday condemned the act of violence that killed two people and injuried more than 50 others in an explosion in Zamboanga City.
“Kaisa natin ang buong sambayanan sa mariing pagkondena ng insidente ng pagpapasabog sa lungsod ng Zamboanga na ikinasawi ng dalawang katao at ikinasugat ng 50 iba pa,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in an interview over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
President Benigno Aquino III went to Zamboanga City on Saturday to personally received assessment from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the incident.
“Personal din siyang dadalaw sa mga pamilya ng dalawang namatay sa pagsabog at sa mga nasaktan at kasalukuyang ginagamot sa ospital,” Coloma added.
Coloma assured the public that the situation is under control.
“Kasalukuyan nang tinutunton ng PNP (Philippine National Police) ang ilang posibleng leads na makapagtuturo sa kinalulugaran ng mga salarin. Hindi tatantanan ng pamahalaan ang pagtugis sa mga sangkot sa insidente upang panagutin sila sa batas,” said Coloma.
“Sinisiguro ng pamahalaan na nakatuon ang mahigpit na pagbabantay ng buong intelligence community at nakatutok ang buong puwersa ng Sandatahang Lakas at ng Pambansang Pulisya upang pigilan ang anomang banta sa seguridad sa bansa,” he added.
According to initial reports, an explosion occurred in front of a videoke bar near a bus station along Maria Clara Lobregat Highway around 3 p.m. on Friday.
With the President in Zamboanga City are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang. (PNA)