August 5, 2013--a day that Cotabateños will never forget.
It was on this tragic day when 7 lives were lost because
of an act of terrorism that still haunts its victims until today, three years
after.
City Vice Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who
was then the City Administrator, was on her way to a meeting, about 4:00 in the
afternoon, when an explosion happened along Sinsuat Avenue, in front of Villa
Funeral Homes. She believed the bomb was meant for her.
"I will never forget what happened. My staff, up to
this day, are still startled everytime they hear a loud "bang"
because of the trauma this horrible incident has caused", said Vice Mayor
Guiani-Sayadi.
She also recalled trying to go down her vehicle and check
upon those who got hit by the bomb's shrapnels but her staff and security
prevented her from doing so as they have heard gun shots shortly after the
explosion.
Seven innocent people, to include two children and two of
the vice mayor's staff, died on the spot.
"Anything that is horribly done to hurt innocent
civilians is an act of terrorism and we cannot allow that to happen in Cotabato
City. Until today, we are still waiting for justice be served to the people
behind this", the official added.
The victims, including the Vice Mayor Guiani-Sayadi, is
calling on the National Bureau of Investigation to finally identify the
suspects on this case, put them to justice, finally heal the hearts of the
families who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones, and somehow
relieve the trauma that the victims still feel until this day. (HALIMA K. SATOL IBRAHIM-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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