Duterte visits Midsayap blast victims, gives medical cash aid
Breaking News • 02:02 AM Mon Dec 26, 2016
1,550
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
President Duterte talks to one of the blast victims at Pesante Hospital in Midsayap, North Cotabato. (John Pagaduan)
MIDSAYAP,
North Cotabato (Dec. 25) -- President Rodrigo
Duterte today assured victims of Christmas Eve blast in front of a Catholic
Church here that justice will be served.
Scheduled for
1 p.m. the President landed in here at about 4 p.m., motored to Aniceto Pesante
Memorial Hospital and briefly talk to blast victims.
Cheyserr
Rosete, 28, who was hit in the legs, was grateful the President saw her. Gwapo
ni President, mabait pa, she said.
He vowed the
government will shoulder all our medical expenses, she recalled her brief
encounter with the President who handed her an undetermined amount of cash
assistance.
She said she
wanted to have selfie with the President but his visit was quick. His visit means so much to us blast victims.
Image may contain 7 people people standing sand//scontent.fmnl4-6.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15697936_1801434080096936_5523275106136988000_n.jpg?oh=bedde557f6196839304f8a5032e8dbe6andampoe=58E51948 (The President as he entered Pesante Hospital in Midsayap,North Cotabato - Photo courtesy of John Pagaduan)The President
also received a security briefing from local and regional police officials and
talked to local officials of Midsayap, led by Mayor Romeo Arania.
A huge crowd
of Midsayapenios greet the President in front of Pesante Hospital. Duterte! Duterte! the crowd chanted as the President
emerged from the hospital.
He went to the
crowd and shake hands with them, especially elders greeting them Merry
Christmas despite advices from his close in security.
At least 17
persons were injured, including a police officer after two men riding tandem on
motorbike tossed a hand grenade under a parked police car along Roosevelt
Street.
Authorities believed
the attack was intended for police forces who have been receiving threats from lawless
elements and drug syndicates.
The grenade
attack came as the Christmas Eve Mass was in progress inside the Sto. Nino
Archdiocesan Shrine at about 9:30 p.m.
Supt. Bernard
Tayong, Midsayap town police chief, said investigation showed the attack could
be a retaliatory attack after police successful anti-drug operation.
Mayor Romeo
Arania of Midsayap also believed the attack was not directed toward the Church
but for the police. Image may contain 2 people people sitting and child sand//scontent.fmnl4-6.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15697954_750493028431136_699067517442167375_n.jpg?oh=faf9b7d25e5773d6e47cdf473c89cba1andampoe=58EA5EE9 Image may contain 23 people crowd and outdoor sand//scontent.fmnl4-6.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15726315_750493255097780_1024557742288899677_n.jpg?oh=7083cef6b6c742630cc2bd272140469fandampoe=58D9F996 (Edwin O. Fernandez)