By Sheila E. Covarrubias

Zamboanga City - - Mayor Celso Lobregat has expressed confidence that Zamboanga City has gone a notch higher than the malefactors of the Tuesday night explosion at the Plaza Pershing stressing that the residents did not succumb to the whims of the terrorists.

“If you look at the streets everything is back to normal and I am grateful not only to the authorities but to the citizenry because they responded to our call to stay calm, not to panic and not to succumb to what the terrorists wanted us to do”, Lobregat said.

Lobregat immediately rushed to the crime scene, located several hundred meters away from City Hall where he was having a meeting Tuesday night.

He said the authorities are thoroughly investigating the case and that the police and military are well under control of the situation.

The city government has shouldered all expenses for the medication of the 16 people who were slightly injured as a result of the explosion at the Plaza Pershing.

Lobregat said people should remain prepared, alert and vigilant as even the most powerful country in the world is a victim of terrorism. “It is unfortunate that it happened but the threat of terrorism is worldwide and we don’t know when they will strike”.

The mayor met with Regional Police Director S/Supt. Jaime Caringal, City Police OIC Director Col. Manuel Barcena, Task Force Zamboanga Chief Col. Alfredo Peralta and some members of the Peace and Order Council to discuss developments on the investigation of the case.

Barcena presented two cartographic sketches of the suspects who planted the improvised explosive devise under the concrete bench in Plaza Pershing. He said the local authorities in coordination with their counterparts from the American Forces are still trying to determine the exact type of the devise used.

He and Peralta assured that all measures are being undertaken to keep the city and the residents safe.

Supt. Caringal revealed that a second explosive devise was discovered but contained on board a Rural Transit Bus plying the Zamboanga City-Cagayan de Oro route at the Pagadian City terminal about four hours after the Plaza Pershing incident.

The explosive was set to go off 12 midnight but was detonated by the police bomb squad team at 11:57.

Caringal also appealed for people’s support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. He stressed that the war against terrorism would succeed through the collaborative efforts of the police and military authorities and the civilian populace.

Meanwhile, all the 16 victims of the Plaza Pershing blast were discharged from the hospital on Tuesday morning.(SEC)

Lobregat has directed General Services Officer Rene de la Cruz to undertake necessary repairs at the Plaza Pershing specifically the site where the explosion took place. (Sheila Covarubias)