Bomb Scare in Davao City

Local residents in davao city were alarmed after hearing the news of 2 bomb scares in different areas within the city in the afternoon of February 24, 2010. Even me after hearing the news on the said bomb scare was alarmed and cannot believe knowing how tight the security in the city. The said bombs were found in the comfort room of the city hall while the other one was found outside the gates of a branch of Central Bank of the Philippines. Local authorities and bomb squads quickly responded to the scene where the suspected bombs were found and then was detonated in a safe place.

Bangko Central ng Pilipinas in Davao City: Location of the first bomb scare

Local bomb squads reassembled the detonated bombs to figure out how it was made and also to be used as evidence in their investigation of who planted those bombs and what are their motives. According to local authorities, the bombs were an improvised explosives and was made on the following materials; 2 bottles of drinking water filled with ammonium nitrate used as the explosive substance, a circuit board, a 9 volts battery and a cell phone that used as the triggering device. Also according to the bomb squads, if those bombs exploded in a crowded place, it could result into severe civilian casualties and damage to properties even though no shrapnel’s found in the package where the bombs were placed. Davao city mayor Rodrigo Duterte in an interview with the local media said that the bomb scare incident was just a plot to ruin the good image of the city and has no intentions of hurting civilians. He also said that he already had suspects of who did the said bomb scare.

City Hall of Davao: Location of the second bomb scare

Though no one died or got injured from the said incident, but this incident could affect the tourism of the city especially during the celebration of Araw ng Dabaw this March 16, 2010. This incident also could ruin the good image of the city which was identified as one of the most livable city in Asia. The good thing was that local police and the local government quickly responded and took control of the situation so prevent worst damage to the city. Another angle being looked at was that there is also a tendency that the root of this incident is purely political. There are those who want davao city to be under comelec control; a situation where the local police, military and the local government will be in the control of the Commission on Elections until the end of the election period. Hopefully this incident will be solved and those who are responsible will be punished and bring back the peace and order of the city, an asset that Davao City has over the past 20 years in spite of unsolved killings in the city. Maybe this is one of the signs of the fiery 2010 elections in the city; a tough battle between the 2 opposing parties here in Davao City.

References:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/07bsp.jpg
http://noprotection.blog.humanrights.asia/files/2008/06/davao-city-hall.JPG