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MARCOS: FOREIGN TERRORISTS BEHIND DEADLY MARAWI BOMB ATTACK By Vince Lopez, Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 292 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023 •
Bomb blast kills 4 during mass
PRESIDENT Marcos on Sunday called for calm in the wake of a bomb attack, blaming “foreign terrorists” for the explosion that left four dead and scores more injured at a gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, where people were hearing Mass. "As reports come in throughout the day, I enjoin all of us to remain calm, circumspect and conscientious in our collective efforts to ensure that the horrific
events of this morning are not further compounded by inaccurate, unvetted and unofficial information," he said. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society,” Mr. Marcos added. Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro said: “There are strong indications of a foreign element. Let’s leave it at that, so that the investigation both by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not be hampered.” Next page
PNP on full alert status after Marawi explosion, NCR on heightened alert By Nash B. Maulana and Vince Lopez
C
OTABATO CITY—Four persons were confirmed dead in a bomb blast during a Sunday Mass service held inside the Mindanao State University gymnasium in Marawi City, an attack President Marcos blamed on “foreign terrorists.”
The Philippine National Police put Mindanao on full alert status while Metro Manila went on heightened alert following the attack. “To reassure the public and deter criminal elements, the NCRPO is on heightened alert with increased police visibility across the region. We are intensifying efforts through the deployment of patrols and checkpoints in strategic locations,” PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said. Attending physicians at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) said 46 others were being treated for varying degrees of injuries at the hospital’s emergency room minutes after the blast that went up at about 7:14 a.m. Police rushing to the crime scene said the type and technical descriptions of the explosive had yet to be determined. Dr. Pinky Rakiin of the APMC
said six were under operation for serious wounds at the hospital’s operating room. Four later died. Security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days. Next page
BLOODY SUNDAY. Military personnel
stand guard at the entrance of a gymnasium while police investigators look for evidence after an explosion at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Lanao del Sur on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. At least four people were killed in the bomb attack on a Catholic mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines. Inset (middle) photo shows Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.. Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner and Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta holding a joint press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo. AFP
2 dead as magnitude 7.4 quake hits Mindanao De Lima: Confidential funds financed Davao Death Squad
By Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja
AT LEAST two people were killed and several were injured after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur late Saturday and triggered tsunami warnings that were later lifted. The powerful quake struck off the coast of Mindanao at a depth of 32 kilo-
metres and was followed by four major aftershocks of magnitudes exceeding 6.0 over several hours into Sunday, the US Geological Survey said. The initial quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region and sent residents along the east coast of Mindanao fleeing buildings, evacuating a hospital and seeking higher ground.
There have been no reports of major damage to buildings or infrastructure so far, disaster officials said Sunday. A 30-year-old man died in Bislig City, in Surigao del Sur province, when a wall inside his house collapsed on top of him, said local disaster official Pacifica Pedraverde.
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‘Source of SMNI false news may face sanctions’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta
POWERFUL QUAKE. Residents and medical personnel evacuate patients from
inside a hospital after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao late Saturday. AFP
120 nations rally behind renewables at COP28 NEARLY 120 nations pledged to triple the world's renewable energy within seven years at UN climate talks as the United States pushed to crank up nuclear capacity and slash methane emissions. With smoggy skies in Dubai highlighting the challenges facing the world, leaders at the COP28 conference threw their support behind voluntary pledges aimed at ramping up alternatives to fos-
sil fuels. A massive deployment of solar, wind, hydroelectric and other renewables is crucial to efforts to replace planet-heating coal, oil and gas and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But COP28 negotiators face far tougher talks on the fate of fossil fuels over the next two weeks. Next page
DISCIPLINARY action would be initiated against the source who leaked misleading information about the travel expenses of the House of Representatives if it is proven to be an employee of the Upper Chamber, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Sunday. Sonshine Media Network International host Jeffrey Celiz made the allegation that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion in travel funds in a span of one year. Celiz, who claimed his source was a Senate employee, has apologized for his erroneous commentary. “I would suggest that the House continue their investigation until they get to the bottom of this accusation and press for the concerned person to reveal the name of their alleged source from the Senate. Otherwise, the House can cite them in contempt,” Zubiri said. During the House Committee on Legislative Franchises hearing on Thursday, Quezon Rep. David Suarez Next page
FORMER Senator Leila de Lima said confidential funds of the Davao City local government were used to bankroll the so-called Davao Death Squad. She said the bloody anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte was a replication of the DDS killings that the Commission on Human Rights extensively investigated
more than a decade ago. “Yes [DDS was financed by confidential funds]. That’s part of the testimony and revelations by Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas and other resource persons that we talked to during the CHR investigation,” said De Lima, also a former chairperson of the Human Rights commission. Next page
135 Chinese vessels swarm WPS reef By Vince Lopez THE Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming." The Chinese boats were "dispersed and scattered" within the boomerangshaped Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometers (200 miles) west of Palawan
Island, the coast guard said. Julian Felipe Reef is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan island. The Philippines said it counted 111 "Chinese maritime militia vessels" (CMM) on November 13. Next page
LA SALLE ARCHERS FORCE TITLE DECIDER VS. UP MAROONS NEWS / A2 STAYING ALIVE. La Salle's Raven Cortez scores a floater against UP's Luis Pablo in Game 2 of the UAAP Men's Basketball Finals.