Candle lighting to highlight Mlang bombing 1st year anniv

KIDAPAWAN CITY— Families and relatives of the November 23, 2014 bombing of a billiard hallin Mlang, North Cotabato will converge on Mondayat the blast site to light candles,offer prayers. This is to remember the bloody incident one year ago. Three teenagers perished in the blast. They wereRolence John Camiring, Francis Charles Rio and Jade Villarin. About 24 other individuals were hurt. Mlang Mayor Joselito Pinol said the commemoration serves as tribute to the victims and their relatives who are still seeking justice. The scar is still there literally. Not only for those who have perished but also to the victims who lost parts of their body...it will always remind them of that incident,” Pinol said. He said until now the families of the victims are waiting for updates onthe status of the case. This despite the assurance from the authorities that they are doing everything to arrest and put behind bars the suspects. Task Force Mlang and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have earlier gathered evidences and witnesses and even came up with the artists’ sketches of the suspects allegedly responsible for planting an IED at the billiard hall. Mayor Pinol said he is not satisfied with the very slow development of the case. Heurged concern government agencies to speed up the resolution of incident to give justice to the victims. At first they are very enthusiastic in their investigation but as days passed the efforts appeared to have waned, Pinol said.He said it has been quiet a while since he received last updates on the case from Task Force and NBI. Lorence Camiring, who lost a child in the blast,said he was pessimistic justice will be served since the suspects remained at large. Its been ayear and justice is still elusive, Camiring said. Despite being desperate,Loida Rio, who also lost a son,said she remained optimistic and prays a lot thatGod will touch the heart of the suspects and they will surrender to face the charges against them. I still believe in miracles, nothing is impossible in the plans of God. Though it pains me losing a very young child full of ambitions in life,” the weeping mother said. But for Edna Villarin, forgiveness was not an option. They killed my child, killing them is the option,” Villarin said. They may have different views and stance, the three parents have asked concernedconcerned agencies to speed upinvestigations and arrest the suspects. We hopethe case of our children will never be forgotten,” Camiring said.