Limketkai Bombing in Cagayan de Oro

July 27, 2013
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July 26, 2013 –  Limketkai Bombing in Cagayan de Oro City is so far the worst bombing incident in the recent years.

According to a newsportal Interaksyon.com –

“Seven persons, including a provincial board member of Misamis Oriental and a doctor, were killed and 41 others wounded in an explosion outside a bar in Cagayan de Oro City late Friday night.

The blast, which happened around 11:30 p.m., ripped through the crowd outside Kyla’s Bistro at Rosario Arcade, within the compound of Limketkai mall, killing Provincial Board member Rolden Lagbas, Dr. Erwin Malanay, a product manager of Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, Anthony Cañete, 35, Ryan Palapac, 34, Emmanuel Palapac,34, and Antonio Paredez, 44, all representatives of drug firms.

Late Saturday morning, another medical company representative, Reynaldo Daupan of UAP Unilab, became the seventh fatality.

Many of the wounded were also representatives of pharmaceutical companies.”

Limketkai is yet to provide their official statement about this bomb attack. Questions in terms of security and preventive measures (if there are any) in placed are yet to be settled by the local authorities and management of Limketkai. 

With this recent development, residents now fear that if a bomb attack can happen at the heart of a busy commercial center – it can happen anywhere in Cagayan de Oro. Thus, is it still safe to travel to Cagayan de Oro? After this bomb attack, is it still safe to conduct business in Cagayan de Oro. What are the local authorities doing to ensure the safety of Cagayan de Oro?

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Bomb attack in Cagayan de Oro City left 6 dead and 37 wounded

July 27, 2013
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July 26, 2013 – They just went out to celebrate the weekend, meet up with friends, or enjoy life…but then death is what they’ve met. 5 people died on the spot when a bomb exploded at a bar in Cagayan de Oro City. The sixth victim was still brought to the hospital but died few hours after.  The bomb attack also left 37 wounded.

The bomb explosion happened infront of Kyla’s Bistro located in LimKetKai Center – a popular destination in the city. According to an ABSCBN report, the fatalities were identified as Misamis Oriental board member Roldan Lagbas, medical representatives Anthony Canete, Ryan Etoce, and Emmanuel Palafox, Dr. Erwin Malanay, and Antonio Paredes.

LimKetKai is a complex where malls and restaurants are located. It is also a location of several condominium projects. However, the recent incident somehow put the location’s security and livability into question.

It is interesting to note that a warning through a travel advisory had been provided few weeks ago. This is not the first time that such travel warning had been provided in The Philippines but for years now, authorities in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) seemed to be taking these travel advisories lightly. 10 yrs ago, the same travel advisory had been issued towards Cagayan de Oro (CDO). Here’s a quote from PhilStar in 2003 of such report – “Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano said the latest advisories issued by the US and Australia are “most cruel, most unkind. Emano said he was surprised to learn that the Australian travel advisory included Cagayan de Oro City. Also, according to a local website – cdoguide.com – despite travel advisories from foreign countries to stay away from the island, Cagayan de Oro City remained generally peaceful and safe to both local and foreign tourists.

With this way of thinking, it seems that Cagayan de Oro had been complacent in terms of security. In 2013, the same travel warning had been provided but no preparations by the local authorities had been reported to prepare for such possible terrorist attacks. Terrorism is a threat that is worldwide. It’s a risk that everyone needs to be concerned of. However, with a city that is taking such threats lightly and known for lack of security – no preparation, no security measures – then Cagayan de Oro became an easy prey.

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