KINONDENA ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ang tinawag nitong “act of terrorism” sa Maguindanao na nagresulta sa pagkakasugat ng mga miyembro ng sepak takraw team.
Ang mga miyembro ng koponan ay kabilang sa mga nasugatan nang pasabugin ang isang improvised explosive device (IED) sa loob ng Rural Transit Bus na kanilang sinasakyan patungong Dipolog City.
“The PSC strongly condemns the act of terrorism which ended up hurting and injuring four Sepak Takraw athletes and one coach in their bus ride to Pagadian City from Cotabato City to participate in the national qualifier for the ASEAN School Games,” pahayag ni PSC chairman William ‘Butch” Ramirez sa isang statement.
“There is no justification for purposely causing pain on any person, especially ones which could possibly become fatal like this bombing,” dagdag pa niya.
“This cowardly act aimed to terrorize the public included athletes among its victims, whose budding athletic futures are unfairly dimmed by this horrible atrocity.”
“Terrorism has no place in sports.”
Binatikos din ni Pilipinas Sepaktakraw Federation, Inc. president Karen Tanchangco ang insidente.
Sa opisyal na pahayag na may petsang Abril 24, sinabi ni Tanchangco na nakababahala ang kaganapan at isa itong banta sa kapayapaan na isinusulong ng pamahalaan, higit ng mga mamamayan sa Mindanao.
“Pilipinas Sepaktakraw Federation, Inc. strongly condemns the bombing of a busy plying the route from Cotabato City to Dipolog City carrying student-athletes and coach of Sepaktakraw. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the unjustified act on the innocents. Our players are just young men wanting to play the sport in hopes of playing our country in the coming 12th ASEAN School Games,” pahayag ni Tanchangco.
“These terroristic acts have no place in Sports and our Sepaktakraw Family feels the families of the victims and that PSTFI will reach out to them for any help we can provide.
“Our grassroots Sepaktakraw Clubs in Mindanao and the Philippines are now in touch with each other to provide any assistance to the victims,” sambit ni Tanchangco.
Batay sa ulat, naganap ang pagsabog habang nakahimpil ang naturang bus sa bus stop at suwerteng nakababa na ang mga pasahero para makapagpahinga mula sa mahabang biyahe. Walang naiulat na nasawi at kasalukuyang iniimbestigahan ang insidente. EDWIN ROLLON
