VP Sara commemorates 2016 Davao night market bombing

Vice President Sara Duterte attended the commemoration of the eighth anniversary of the Roxas night market bombing in Davao City.

In a statement on Tuesday, Duterte extended her sympathies to the 15 victims who died during the attack on September 1, 2016.

She also shared that a nurse who took care of her was also one of the victims.

“Nag-alay po tayo ng bulaklak at panalangin para sa mga namayapa, at para sa mga biktima ng karahasan at terorismo. Walong taon na po ang nakalilipas, ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang pighati na iniwan nito,” she said.

(We offered flowers and prayers for the deceased, and for the victims of violence and terrorism. Eight years have passed, but we can still feel the pain of the people they left behind)

Duterte called for the public to oppose terrorism to avoid similar incidents.

“Muli akong nananawagan sa aking mga kababayan na manalangin at magkaisa sa paglaban sa terorismo at sa mga taong sumusuporta nito. Huwag po nating hayaan na maulit pa ang ganitong pangyayari at huwag po nating suportahan ang mga taong masasama!” she added.

(I am, once again, calling my countrymen to pray and unite in fighting terrorism and the people who support it. Let us not allow a repeat of this incident and let us not support evil people)

The bombing at the night market on Roxas Street occurred around 10:20 p.m. on September 2, 2016.

The blast was said to have originated in a massage parlor that was located outside a hotel that former president Rodrigo Duterte frequented during his term.

A total of 7 suspects were charged with attempted murder in 2020, getting up to 40 years of jail time and P350,000 reparation fines for each of the 15 deceased victims. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News