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Monday, March 10, 2003
Vidal prays for Cebu’s safety, condemns attacks in Davao
By Linette C. Ramos
CALLING the recent bombing in Davao City a “cruel and heartless” act, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal condemned the series of attacks in Mindanao, as he prayed that Cebu be spared from similar atrocities.
“It’s terrible for something to happen like that, especially that it did not happen in military exercises there but in a place where there were children waiting for their parents to arrive,” the cardinal told reporters yesterday.
Twenty people were killed instantly and 140 others were seriously injured when a bomb exploded at the waiting shed of Davao International Airport last Tuesday afternoon.
Less than an hour later, three others were wounded in a blast at the city health office of Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
“It was very cruel and heartless of the people behind those incidents. How can they do something like that? I pray that it doesn’t happen to us here,” the cardinal said.
The bombings occurred a day before Ash Wednesday, when Pope John Paul II asked the Roman Catholic Church to pray for peace in the Middle East and other countries and to dedicate the observance of Lent to world peace.
Following the attacks, Cardinal Vidal also appealed to the clergy and the faithful in the archdiocese to pray for peace in Davao and other provinces in Mindanao, where separatist groups have launched attacks against the military.
As he advised his flock to take extra care and as he prays that his own archdiocese will be spared from any act of terrorism, Vidal said the safety of the people cannot be guaranteed at all times.
“We won’t know what will happen. We have to take extra care but what can we do if it happens there and we happen to be there?” he said.
Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia is hosting a conference tomorrow with military and police officials to assess Cebu’s security requirements.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
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