The Mindanao State University (MSU) System strongly urged the public to keep sobriety and stay calm as the security in their vicinity is on high alert as the probe is ongoing to resolve the blast case that occurred at Dimaporo Gymnasium early in the morning of December 3 this year.
This atrocious event has resulted in the loss of at least four lives, with three women pronounced dead on the spot and one man declared dead on arrival at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC). Moreover, the incident left over 40 attendees of a Sunday congregation wounded.
MSU System Vice President for Planning and Development Engr. Rodrigo Baid saw this strike amidst a Eucharistic celebration of his church as horrific.
He emphasized that their university administration has been striving to protect and keep everyone secure. However, he maintained that no excellent man could be ready for a well-planned and organized terrorist attack, more so that they were not trained for that as they are academicians.
While maintaining that the tragedy was an isolated case, Baid assured that university and local government officials, including the security sector, are not idle. Instead, they are rolling up their sleeves to address this situation so everyone can move forward.
“To my fellow Christians, especially my Catholic comrades, stay in full sobriety of this situation. We stay calm. Rest assured that the MSU administration is doing its best to contain and address this thing,” he said.
Earlier, MSU System President Lawyer Basari Mapupuno strongly denounced the explosion, which has caused so much anger, hurt, frustration, and pain. It has cast gloom and apprehension on the part of the Christian and Catholic members of their Main Campus community.
After praying for justice for the victims, he reminded the public that the root of this consummated evilness was terrorism, which accordingly recognizes no religion or socio-economic background.
Countering this, Mapupuno disclosed that they have been convening and consulting with relevant offices and college deans to devise doable solutions so this would never recur in the coming days.
Despite the anguish and fear, the university president said the institution should recover and rise from what had befallen it.
To achieve this, he encouraged everyone to play their part and assist their Dakilang Pamantasan (Great University) in moving forward from this chapter, continuing its journey of bringing hope and peace to their land.
Mapupuno also urged the public to be watchful and cooperate with the authorities while staying prudent in dealing with and posting their sentiments on social media to utilize it as a channel of unity instead of divisiveness.
Despite this unexpected scourge, Mapupuno urged the entire constituency to keep loving the institution, which has proven through time how it shed hope for many.
“Hindi ka mahirap mahalin, MSU. Sa loob ng mahigit anim na dekada, maraming kang biniyayaan ng liwanag at pag-asa, at naging dahilan ka kung bakit nakamit ng marami ang kanilang mga matatayog na pangarap (You are not hard to love, MSU. For more than six decades, you have provided light and aspirations, and became the reason why lots have reached their great dreams). Because of this, we should love you all the more. Let us all stand for peace and unity. Let us all stand for MSU,” he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
No comments