VP Duterte urges vigilance, sobriety in wake of Marawi blast

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday urged vigilance to thwart a possible further attack on civilians as she condemned the explosion that hit a university gymnasium in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, that killed at least four people.

"Nakikiramay po ako sa mga pamilya ng mga biktima ng pagsabog ng bomba sa loob ng Mindanao State University sa Marawi City nitong araw ng Linggo," Duterte said in a statement.

"Kasabay nito ay ang ating mahigpit na pagkondena na nangyaring pagpapasabog at sa mga tao o grupo na nasa likod nito."

While urging residents to be alert after the explosion, Duterte also called for calm as authorities investigate what she described as a brazen yet cowardly act of violence.

The blast, which also injured scores of individuals, happened while the victims were attending a Catholic Mass. Authorities have yet to determine the motive or identify what explosive was used.

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"Ang mga nasawi at mga sugatan ay mga sibilyan. Nakakabahala na ito ay nangyari sa loob ng MSU compound sa isang Katolikong simbahan — sa isang bahagi ng bansa na may mahaba at madugong karanasan sa terorismo, Duterte said.

"Alam natin ang takot at sakit na dala ng karumaldumal na gawaing ito.
Dapat ay maging matatag tayo sa harap ng mga hamon at patuloy na banta ng terorismo," the vice president also said.

"Huwag nating hayaan na magtagumpay ang kasamaan laban sa bayang nagkakaisa para sa kapayapaan."

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