Alert Level 4 Imposed in General Santos City

The entire city is now placed under “Alert Level 4” following an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) at 11:40 Sunday morning (Sept 16) in front of a pharmacy crossing Makar in Barangay Apopong here that left at least eight people hurt.

Joint Task Force (JTF) Gensan commander Col. Adonis Bajo said the heightened security level is necessary and agreed by the members of the Crisis Management Committee chaired by Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

According to Police Regional Office (PRO) XII spokesperson Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, the still unidentified suspect/s placed the IED beside The Generics Pharmacy (TGP), which is situated just next to Vic Bonita lying-in clinic, among other rows of commercial establishments.

The victims were immediately brought to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

“The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office dispatched an ambulance and rescue vehicle to the site to transport the victims to the hospital,” the Regional DRRM Council XII through the Office of Civil Defense indicated in its initial situation report on Sunday to National DRRMC.

Mayor Rivera also ordered the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to give priority attention to the victims.

Hadija Odoya of CSWDO who said the victims have been declared “non-critical” by their attending physicians as of late afternoon Sunday, identified the victims as six-year-old Joana Bless Alipio and Lanie Alipio, 34 from Glamang, Polomolok, South Cotabato; Jessly Yvonne Guyos, 19 and Anthony Fallor, 24 both residents of Polomolok, South Cotabato; Claire Uozoia, 24, Koronadal City; John Lennon Calong, 22 of Sultan Kudarat; Felipa Regidor, 63 and Marlon Yadao Orabia, 30 both residents of Apopong, General Santos City.

Condemning the explosion in the strongest possible terms, Rivera urged his constituents to take extra precautions and be vigilant at all times.

Malacanang through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday also condemned the blast in a statement. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s explosion that hit General Santos City which left scores of people injured. This comes at an unfortunate time when the nation is reeling from the effects of Ompong.”

Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco, PRO XII regional director said they are looking at all possible angles to determine the motive of the bombing and be able to pinpoint the perpetrators and bring them to justice as soon as possible.

He also ordered a stringent security measures to be observed in the city saying he will deploy additional policemen and use all possible resources to help secure the safety of the Generals. (CT Apelacio/PIA-12 Sarangani-General Santos City)