The city government of Davao commemorated the sixth anniversary of the Roxas Night Market bombing on Friday.
Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, together with the families of the victims, members of the Security Cluster, and other government officials, led the memorial service held at the blast site on Roxas Avenue.
“My prayers with the families of the victims six years ago and the previous ones also,” he said.
On September 2, 2016, a bomb exploded at Roxas Night Market killing 15 individuals and wounding 70 others.
“Historically, ang Davao City has always been a target sa mga ingon ani na mga terrorist activities. Mao nay naa ta’y ginatawag na Culture of Security and para i-simplify gyud nato kung unsa ning Culture of Security is kanang magbinantayay ta. Kung naa ta sa gawas dili ta magkumpyansa. Kung naa tay makita na mga unusual na mga butang, pareha anang mga bag na nakabilin lang, i-report gyud ninyo. Magbinantayay ug magtinabangay gyud ta kay lisod gyud kaayo,” Duterte said.
The Culture of Security Project is a people-centered campaign that encourages Dabawenyos to adopt vigilance as their way of life. The campaign “May Nakita? Dapat Magsalita!” is an order encouraging Dabawenyos to adopt the Culture of Security as part of their way of life.
The Culture of Security was conceptualized and launched by the city government of Davao and Task Force Davao (TFD) on July 1, 2020, to ensure that bombing incidents in Davao City will not happen again.
Duterte is thankful to the police and the military for always putting the city at the maximum level of security because of terrorism.
“Before ko misulod ug pulitika naa gyud koy hesitation kay lisod kaayo magbantay ug lugar na kabalo ka nga anytime, naa gyud mahitabo. Ginapangikamutan gyud nato na everyday, 24/7 bantayan ang atong lugar. Pero mao lagi, we can only do so much kung unsa ra gyud ang kaya sa gobyerno pero ang importante kung naa sila’y suspicion, do not leave it at suspicion, mu-report gyud sila. Ayaw mo ug kumpyansa and try to avoid congregations. It would be better for all of us man pud,” he said.
Meanwhile, the mayor also issued a warning to scammers and opportunists who plan to enter Davao City.
“Diri sa Davao manginabuhi ta ug simple lang unya safe, inyong pamilya ug inyong amigo. Dili lang mo manghilabot. Pero kung oportunista ka unya diri ka, piti gyud ka diri. Ako naa ko sa akong ginalingkuran karon tungod dili gyud nako palampason ang ingon ana. Mao na ang usa ka rason, dili lang nako maistorya atong kampanya kay basin mahadlok mo sa akoa. Dili patas sa tao nga nagtarong. Mao na kung musulod mo ug Davao dula mo ug patas. Kay kung dili, gukdon gyud ta mo,” he said.
