Peace activist priest condemns Cotabato blast

MANILA, August 5, 2013— Central Mindanao’s renowned Catholic peace activist has strongly condemned the explosion that rocked CotabatoCity on Monday, killing six people and injuring 29 more.

Fr. Jun Mercado, Jr., who belongs to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate religious order, said nothing could justify such action of killing people.

“We condemn in the strongest term this act of wanton killing innocent civilians… a crime against humanity. Thou shalt not kill!” Mercado said.

According to him, the said explosion occurred on the city’s Sinsuat Avenue at around 4:40pm.

Initial reports from the local authorities said the explosive was planted in one of the cars parked in front of Funeraria Villa and exploded just when the convoy of CotabatoCity administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi was passing through the area.

The official was unhurt in the explosion.

Mercado said the blast’s site is near the very busy intersection leading to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“Local authorities are still identifying the type of bomb and investigating the possible target or if it is another act of terrorism,” he said.

It was the second bombing to strike Mindanao in 10 days, following an explosion in Cagayan de Oro City that claimed eight lives on July 26.(CBCPNews)