Stories

2003 Davao Airport Bombing

The Davao airport bombing took place on the afternoon of 4 March 2003. Mary Beth Elivera (left), a mother in her 20s, was badly injured in the bombing. At the time of the attack, Mary Beth was waiting to pick up her younger sister, who was flying from Manila. She was chatting with other family members when the bomb went off, senind numerous pieces of shrapnel into her lower body.

 

Mary Beth was two months pregnant at the time of the incident, and doctors were concerned that the fetus might be harmed by the stress of her injuries, as well as by the high levels of blood coagulates and pain medication that were administered to her. Several months later, baby Mary Grace was born prematurely but without problems, an event Mary Beth calls "a miracle."

 

 

2005 Valentine's Day Bombing

Mark Gil Bigbig, 31, a medical nursing student and one of the victims of the Valentine's Day bombing in General Santos City had just finished one of his exams and was having a snack at a local fast food outlet, when a bomb went off outside the store. He was hit by shrapnel and glass from the blast. He suffered major trauma to his legs and cannot today cannot walk without braces and crutches, over two years after the attack.

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2006 Bombing at Sulu Cooperative

Oscar Sontillinosa, Jr., a store employee, was at work at the store at the time of the attack, weighing out sigar into bags. The store had been receiving threats and shortly before the bomb detonated, the employees had a meeting.

Oscar was near the front of the store only a few meters from the bomb. He was hit by debris, flying concrete, shrapnel, and the force and heat of the blast. He suffered serious burns and lacerations. He remembers seeing one of his colleagues, Marivic, lying on the ground nearby with a severe head wound, gasping for breath, legs spread and apparently broken, and her bones clearly visible.