Press Statement of Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
on the Cotabato Bombing
August 6, 2013

I join my voice as a Mindanaonon with thousands of outraged citizens in condemning the utterly senseless bombing in Cotabato city yesterday that took away eight innocent lives of Muslims and Christians alike, injured many others, and destroyed the environment of peace and security that the government is seriously trying to create in the country and especially in Mindanao.

I hope that our law enforcement authorities, and the MILF, the MNLF and the other well-intentioned factions in the area would spare no effort and waste no time to identify the bombers, cause their arrest, and help secure their own kith and kin and the rest of the population there from terrorists.

I also ask the DSWD, Pagcor, the LGUs, and the other government agencies to extend the needed help to the victims and enable the survivors and their families to restart their lives all over again.