STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON CONDEMNING THE CAR BOMBING IN BASILAN THAT KILLED AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE

I strongly condemn the latest act of terrorism in Basilan wherein ten people, including four civilians, were killed due to an explosion inside a van moments after it was stopped at a check point in Lamitan City, Basilan. A mother and child were among the four civilian casualties.

Such act of terrorism, which is an indiscriminate attack, violates the International Humanitarian Law and our domestic law - Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against

International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, which I authored.

Moreover, this latest attack merely underscores the need to strengthen the military's intelligence operations to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure peace and security in the country.

My heart-felt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. I urge the government to give justice for their untimely deaths by bolstering our Armed Forces' capability so that the military would be more effective in defending the country against internal and external threats. The Philippine National Police and other security forces should also have improved capability to ensure peace and order.