Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday, Dec. 4, denounced the deadly bomb explosion in the gymnasium of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City and advised the public to remain calm and be vigilant.
In a video statement posted on her official Facebook page, Duterte expressed concern at the attack which killed and wounded innocent civilians.
"Kasabay nito ay ang ating mahigpit na pagkondena sa nangyaring pagpapasabog at sa mga tao o grupo na nasa likod nito [...] Isa itong gawaing mapangahas ngunit malinaw rin sa atin na isa itong karuwagan," she said.
The Vice President extended her condolences to the slain victims.
She called on Filipinos, especially Mindanaoan, to "remain calm" amid the ongoing probe into the bombing incident.
"Gayunpaman, kailangan rin nating maging maingat at maging mapagmatyag upang mapigilan natin ang mga maaaring susunod pang atake sa mga sibilyan," Duterte said.
"Alalahanin natin ang ating mga tagumpay para itaguyod ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao at sa buong bansa," she added.
The Vice President said Filipinos should be strong amidst the challenges and continued terrorist threats.
"Huwag nating hayaan na magtagumpay ang kasamaan laban sa bayang nagkakaisa para sa kapayapaan," Duterte furthered.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. also strongly condemned the bombing incident, which he believed perpetrated by "foreign terrorists".
The authorities are now looking at two possible angles in the bomb explosion — terrorist groups' retaliatory attack and a possible involvement of foreign element.
The Philippine National Police has raised a red alert status in Mindanao, and placed the National Capital Region (NCR) under heightened alert.
