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STATEMENT
OF PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO ON THE
BOMBING OUTSIDE DAVAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Malacañang Palace, March 4, 2003 The Davao City bombing early this evening is a brazen act of terrorism that will not go unpunished. The killing is a cowardly crime not only against the Filipino people but against humanity itself. I assure you justice will be done. I will mobilize the full powers of the Presidency to identify and capture not only the inhuman perpetrators of this crime but their co-conspirators as well. The Philippine National Police has responded quickly to the bombing, and I have been informed that their men has already several men in custody being interrogated for committing these murders. I have ordered the PNP and the AFP to set up a joint command center in Davao City that would undertake a massive operation to hunt down the bombers and their accomplices. I have ordered the PNP to expand their security perimeters around critical and heavily populated centers, and the AFP to clear suspected lairs of terrorists around Davao City. I am directing DILG Secretary Joey Lina and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to proceed immediately to Davao City to make sure on the ground that my orders are implemented. I am directing Secretary Lina to make sure that local government units are mobilized in preventing future acts of such brazen terrorism. I have appointed Davao City mayor Rudy Duterte as crisis manager to oversee operations against the terrorists responsible for the bombing and to ensure the security of Davao City. I extend my sincerest condolences to the loved ones and relatives of the Davao victims of such a heinous crime. I am vowing to you justice will be done. (SGD) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO |