Prayers offered for Pikit church blast; another victim dies

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Prayers were offered as churches from various denominations expressed sympathy to the bereaved families of the victims of the bombing of a United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) local church in Pikit town in Cotabato province.

 

Two people died and three were initially reported injured as a result of the blast from a grenade lobbed at the UCCP church in Barangay Poblacion on October 8. 

However, a third victim, Virgie Manolid, who was confined at the Kidapawan Doctors’ Hospital Inc. due to severe head injuries, passed away on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Manolid died due to cardiac arrest, her son told reporters on Wednesday morning. 

 

Mary Joy Mirasol, secretary-general of the Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR) in North Cotabato, said their group offered prayers and lit candles while police investigators are continuing their probe of the deadly blast.

 

Mirasol said the attack was horrendous since it did not spare the religious and was done at the exact time 30 people were gathered for a midweek prayer service.

 

“We fear that fear will start to sow in our parishioners which will forestall them in attending liturgical and Eucharistic celebrations most especially if justice will not be afforded to the victims,” Mirasol said.

 

“We also challenge the local government of Pikit and the local authorities to take speedy and serious investigations to give justice to the victims and their families.” Mirasol stressed.

 

The PCPR is hoping that the result of the investigation will be fair.

 

“We hope that this case will not be deduced to religious conflict,” Mirasol said. 

On Thursday, the UCCP condemned the bombing.

He also urged authorities to conduct a speedy investigation of the incident. —KG, GMA News