Mayor Sara, survivors mark Roxas Night Market blast

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has called for continued vigilance and adopt the Culture of Security, as Davao City marks the fourth year since the September 2, 2016, Roxas Night Market bombing.

“Davao City must be one in being vigilant. We have been hard in campaigning our Culture of Security here in Davao City. One of the components of that is being vigilant. Hopefully, masulod na gyud na sa kasing-kasing ug sa pang huna-huna sa mga Dabawenyos kada adlaw nga (Hopefully, it would remain in the hearts and minds of the Dabawenyos every day) we should always be vigilant because it can happen anytime,” Mayor Sara said during a solemn ceremony at the blast site along Roxas Avenue on Wednesday.

The solemn ceremony was officiated by Archbishop Romulo Valles and was attended by Mayor Sara, the Task Force Davao Commander Consolito Yecla, Davao City Police Office Director Pol./Col. Kirby John Kraft and City Social Welfare and Development Office Head Maria Luisa Bermudo.

Mayor Sara offered flowers and candles at the memorial site with some representatives of deceased family members and survivors of the bombing incident.

The 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing left 17 people dead and 74 others wounded.

“Because of the pandemic, we cannot invite all of the survivors of the bombing and all the family members of the deceased like we used to in the past. But we should still remember the ones who passed because of the incident, that is why we held the simple ceremony,” said CSWDO Head Maria Luisa Bermudo.

The city government is still supporting the survivors and the family of those who perished at the Roxas Night Market bombing through financial and educational assistance.

Joanna Reyes, one of the survivors, expressed her gratitude to the city government for not failing to support her and her family. Three of her children are scholars of Davao City.

“Wala gyud nagkulang ang city government sa paghatag og ayuda sa amoa. Grateful kaayo mi nga wala gyud mi gipasagdan sa gobyerno hilabi na kay Mayor Sara nga all the time gyud ginacheck gyud niya kung unsa ang panginahanglan namo (The city government did not remiss in providing us with assistance. We are grateful that the government continues to support us, especially Mayor Sara who always check on us and ask us of our needs),” she said. CIO