Cotabato students, tutors decry blasts, abductions

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Teachers and students of private and public elementary and high schools here yesterday declared a “school holiday” to dramatize their outrage over mounting threats of kidnappings and more bombings in the city.

Last week, local businessmen also shut down their establishments for a day to show their disappointment and indignation over the July 5 bombing near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which left six people and 51 others wounded, and the kidnappings by Moro militants of residents of Chinese descent here and in surrounding towns.

Police and the Army’s anti-crime Task Force Tugis still have no clues on the identities of the bombers and the real motive behind the attack.

The teachers and students took to the streets carrying placards with appeals to authorities to address the security problems plaguing the city and bring justice to the victims of the July 5 blast.