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Two Bombs Explode Inside Cinemas in Davao City
Two bombs exploded in Davao City last night, Monday. They were in SM Cinema 1 and Gaisano Mall Cinema 5 in Bajada area.
The first bombing went around 9: 05 p.m. inside Cinema 1 of SM City while another one in Gaisano Mall Cinema 5, 9: 25 p.m. followed, online reports say.
No one was reported killed although five people were complaining of severe ear pain because of the loud sound of the bomb. These were the people watching in Gaisano Mall Cinema.
The ten moviegoers in SM Cinema 1 however were not hurt because the bomb was reportedly placed on top of a seat on the front row in the orchestra; they were seated in the balcony area.
The bomb which exploded in Gaisano Mall was placed on top on a seat in the 4th row.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Chief Senior Supt. Ronald dela Rosa said cellular phones were probably used to detonate the IEDs or the improvised explosive devices.
In an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin, dela Rosa said that his command will immediately conduct target hardening operations and investigations to identify those behind the two bombings.
“We will not sleep on this”, he said.
Dela Rosa also said that they will review the CCTV cameras of the malls, an online news report say.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte on the other hand, said that the police and the military will intensify checkpoints on entry points to the city, deploy foot patrols, as well as apply random checks, while the two malls are in charge of their own security, reports say.
Mayor Duterte also challenged residents and visitors to sue him and not the police if they think the security measures taken violate their human rights. He said that the authorities can only do so much at this point, reports say.
According to news sources, Mayor Duterte was on official business in South Korea and was supposed to come home on Friday yet but he rushed back to the country and caught the last flight to Manila on Monday night due to the bombing incident.
The Moro National Liberation Front’s Davao Chairman Rolando Abdul Aziz Olamit, who rushed to Gaisano Mall of Davao on Monday night reportedly, said that the incident has nothing to do with the Zamboanga City crisis involving MNLF members and government troops. “Definitely, this has nothing to do with (us). The MNLF in Davao City is supporting peace and order,” he said.
Mayor Duterte said he spoke with both Olamit and MNLF founder Nur Misuari who assured him that there was no order to launch attacks in Davao City. Duterte said he believes the two MNLF leaders, reports say.
To date, both shopping malls have yet to release their official statements. In a press conference this morning, Mayor Duterte said the city government will review the protocols of the security agencies employed by the shopping malls, reports say.
Members of the Explosives Ordnance Team of the Davao City Police Office and Scene of the Crime Operatives are still conducting post-blast examination in trying to determine the bomb signature.
In news reports, as of press time, the authorities could still not point out the groups or individuals involved in the two bombings. The mayor, however, told the police not to rush the investigation to ensure they get the right perpetrators before making any official pronouncements. “It’s all speculative at this point,” he said, reports say.
The fact that the bomb was placed in a low-traffic environment led authorities to speculate that terrorism might not be the main motive. But still, Mayor Duterte said, it’s “purely a guessing game.” , said the reports.
Meanwhile the news reports, dela Rosa said that there is a possibility of identifying the suspects since only a handful of persons were inside the cinemas when the explosions occurred.
Source: businessworld online, manila bulletin
