Police Regional Office 12 – “We strongly condemn in the highest possible term the perpetrators of this incident. Whatever their reason is, this is most unacceptable especially that the lives of the innocent people are at stake. PRO 12 will never rest to go after these lawless elements who meant nothing but destabilization of the tranquility and peace of this region to which we are doing our every best to maintain. ” this was the statement of Police Brigadier General ALFRED S CORPUS as report on December 22, 2019 Libungan blast reach his office .
With this, the PRO 12 Regional Director leave the Regional Headquarters for North Cotabato first hour of Monday morning, December 23, 2019 to conduct ocular inspection on the blast site and to personally assess and oversee the action taken of the concerned units.
According to RD CORPUS, the first explosion took place at about 06:20 in the evening of December 22, 2019, in front of Alan Remarata Store in Brgy. Poblacion, Libungan, Cotabato on December 22, 2019.
Said incident injured seven (7) individuals namely: 1. Rolando Barbon Amistoso, 49 years old, male, married, driver and resident of Brgy. Cabaruyan, Libungan Cotabato; 2. Ma. Vivian Quemada Bulaha, 43 years old, female, married, housewife and resident of Brgy. Nalin 2, Midsayap, Cotabato; 3. Ronald Cardoza Eslit, 42 years old, male, married, driver and resident of Brgy. Poblacion, Libungan Cotabato; 4. Reynante Victoriano Barbon, 19 years old, male, single, sales boy and resident of Brgy. Montay, Libungan Cotabato; 5. Angelica Sangorampat Cabatingan, 22 years old, female, married, sales lady and resident of Brgy. Kapayawi, Libungan Cotabato; 6. Melani Silvano Vilar, 34 years old, single, businesswoman and a resident of Brgy. Cabaruyan, Libungan, Cotabato; and 7. Jinies Tudlas, 56 years old, female, married, farmer and resident of Brgy. Sinawingan, Libungan, Cotabato.
Another explosion also took place few meters from the first blast an hour later, however, no casualty has been recorded.
The victims were brought to the different medical facilities for medical treatment, while investigation and hot pursuit operation is on-going for the possible arrest of the suspect/s and identification of the motives.
“Our sympathy goes to the family of the wounded, most especially that this happen days before Christmas. On our part, we are looking forward for a peaceful Christmas Celebration for our constituents, and we are saddened by incidents like these. This is what our adversaries wants us to feel, to be demoralized by this incidents, however, this is not the time to be disheartened, instead, it’s the time to double our alertness and our efforts so as not to falter on our mandates and desire to give our people the peaceful and joyous celebration of the yuletide season which they deserved…
Our enemies want the people to distrust the government, but, I hope everyone realizes that this is not the will of the government for we are doing every way we can to avoid these kinds of incidents. To the community, I hope you will not give way to your disappointments as how these groups wanted you to feel. Your trust and confidence is the most essential for fostering peace and harmony within our region. It is on this light that we are calling unto everyone to be more alert and be more vigilant. Should you have any knowledge of irregularities or you found objects or persons suspicious, do not hesitate to call the attention of the nearest police office or station. Together, let us work to make this Region safe and free from any form of violence.” PBGEN CORPUS added.
RD PRO 12 also directed all Provincial Directors and City Director to intensify all choke/checkpoints in all strategic areas in SOCCSKSARGEN especially all of its boundaries and also to intensify the PRO’s intelligence gathering to pre-empt similar incidents in the future. Security in all places of convergence was further strengthened on top of the security preparations during the Yuletide Season.
