#davaobombing

How strange. It all seemed like the littlest of things that kept other people from heading to Roxas before the blast were a “blessing in disguise”. Little things like maybe they got lazy and cancelled, or maybe their friends told them “bai sa mall nalang ta laag kay medyo layo ang Roxas sa amoa” and so they changed plans, or they were out somewhere and decided to come to the night market to eat or buy clothes from the ukay-ukay but their tummies went berserk so they went home instead. I was supposed to go, too, but something came up and in the back of my mind I was thinking “meh, I guess the balut and isaw would have to wait another day.”

But, what if? What if things went differently for us? What if we actually went? Imagine just sitting there, having fun with your friends or your family while munching on chocolate buchi or something, oblivious of the fact that a bomb was going to go off.

See, a small part of me is thankful that my loved ones and I were spared, but the rest of my being just… aches. I ache for the victims so much I couldn’t sleep. Being spared from something as tragic as that is not even worth rejoicing when you know innocent people died. Coming to Roxas Night Market will never be the same. You just can’t say, “move on, it was just 10+ bodies, more people die in some countries.” You do NOT just compare. Those lives were precious, I know. You do not compare and you do not associate it with politics, and you do not say “oh, they deserve it! They voted for Duterte!”

          An explosion at a night market in Roxas Street, Davao City on Friday night, September 2, killed at least 14 people and injured more than 60 according to Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella.

          An improvised explosive device caused the explosion and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has claimed responsibility for the blast. ASG spokesperson Abu Rami said the Davao attack is a "call for unity to all mujahideen in the country" amid the all-out offensive of the military against the group.

          The Davao City explosion has prompted Duterte to declare a state of lawlessness across the Philippines.

           Davao blast may be a diversionary tactic aimed “to ease up the pressure that they [Abu Sayyaff] have been experiencing in Sulu” where government troops have been deploted following the President’s order to “destroy” the group.

            The attack may have been no more than a diversionary move. However, it is no longer an attack against the president but rather, an attack against humanity. Several innocent lives were affected due to the explosion. The bombing was a savage attack on human lives – on our culture of life, and we want swift justice for the victims and their families. It is no longer about the government, the Aquinos nor Marcos, neither is it about origin nor religion, but a crime against humanity, an act of selfishness, hatred and fear.

 People who use the Davao explosion to affirm their political stance are the  scum of the earth. Log off the internet and never come back.