At the sidelines of the Peace Conversation in the town of Midsayap, Cotabato last Jan 3, Secretary Dureza together with Cotabato 1st District Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, GPH Peace Implementing Panel chair Irene Santiago, Vice Mayor Albert Luis Garduque and ARMY;s 6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. personally met with blast victims.
Based on police report, some 18 churchgoers were wounded in the December 24 Sto Nino Church grenade blast in Midsayap town. Seven others sustained injuries in the Pagangan roadside explosion in Aleosan town last December 28.
The victims of both incidents received food and non-food items from OPAPP and local government units concerned and the Office of Cotabato 1st district Rep. Jesus Sacdalan.
Midsayap Vice Mayor Albert Luis Garduque expressed his support to the Duterte administration’s inclusive peace and development agenda.
“We together with NGOs wish for an inclusive peace and for the resumption of the peace talks. It is only now that the cabinet secretaries go down to the communities to listen to the needs of the people,” Garduque
On the other hand, Secretary Dureza called on the public to be more vigilant and to unite in the fight against threats of terrorism.
“We like to also gather around ang mga nabiktima ng karahasan because we feel for you.This is really very tragic sa mga ginahimo sa mga tunto didto. Ginasakatan ang mga inosente nga tawo.Why are hitting the innocent civilians, why don’t they fight the military.We are here to sympathize with you,” Dureza said.
Sec Dureza said, vigilance and unity of the people and the community is essential to stop threats of terrorism and lawlessness.
I’m sure they will stop and we callon the authorities now to really go and find out who are the real perpetrators that would send a strong message you can’t do it with impunity, he said.
“No amount of gifts can adequately compensate the feeling of being terrorized that you have experience,” he told the victims. “We should not allow this kind of terrorism. We should all help together sa atong peace negotiations.”
“We are happy that the MILf is working hand in hand with the government to see to it that we have a peaceful community,” Dureza added. (PIA)
