On the morning of August 2, 2013, different sectors of
society expressed their solidarity against acts of terror and violence which
were perpetrated by still unknown person or group who was responsible for the
deadly bombing at Kyla’s Bistro in Lim Ket Kai Arcade in Cagayan de Oro on July
26, 2013. The blast claimed the lives of 8 persons and injured more than 40
others. The large number of casualties
who were mostly medical professionals and medical sales representatives who
came from different parts of the Philippines to attend a medical convention in
the city made headlines in television, radio and newspapers. President Benigno
Aquino III has ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation of the
incident and arrest the perpetrators.
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| Archbishop Antonio Ledesma |
The activities of solidarity for peace started at 7 a.m. with
a mass at the blast site at Kyla’s Bistro. It was attended by the people who
would participate in the march and the rally for peace. Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma officiated the mass. He was
assisted by Monsignor Elmer Abacahin and Father Antonio Moreno S. J.
After the mass was the solidarity walk for peace which was
participated by different sectors such as members of the civil society,
professionals, businessmen, members of the Muslim community, representatives of
public market vendors, government employees and members of law enforcement agencies
such as the police and the army. The participants started at Lim Ket Kai Arcade
passing through streets at Cogon Public Market, J.R. Borja Street and into
their final destination which was the Kiosko Sa Kagawasan in Divisoria. Mayor
Oscar Moreno and his wife Arlene were among those people who participated in
the march.
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| Mayor Oscar Moreno with wife |
At the Kiosko Sa Kagawasan a rally for peace was conducted
with a short program. Representatives of different sectors made their speeches.
Among them was the representative of the Muslim community and other sectors. Police
Superintendent Michael John Deloso gave an update of the investigation
regarding the incident. But so far there was hardly anything new to his
pronouncements that were not known to the audience. Mr. Teddy Sabuga-a who spoke
in behalf of Mayor Moreno announced a two million-peso reward to any person who
could give information leading to the arrest of the real perpetrator of the
bombing.
Cagayan de Oro is called the “City of Golden Friendship”
because its people are known for their friendliness and hospitality to their
visitors. Those traits in addition to the strategic location of the city in
Mindanao are some of the reasons why Cagayan de Oro is a hub of investments,
tourism and other economic activities that made it as one of the premier cities
of Mindanao. Kagay-anons are saddened and outraged with the incident that caused
embarrassment to their city. The bombing was an isolated incident, and it
should not scare tourists and investors away from the city. Kagay-anons want a
closure of the case with the arrest of the perpetrators and bringing them
before the bar of justice.
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