GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Following Saturday night’s deadly twin blasts in Maasim town in Sarangani province, the country’s Ambassador for Peace and Understanding Manny Pacquiao is calling for dialogues to achieve peace and stop bombings and kidnappings especially in Mindanao.

Pacquiao rushed to a hospital where the injured blast victims were taken to give them comfort as well as assistance.

“Bilang ambassador for peace, nalulungkot ako sa nangyari at kaya ko sila dinalaw dito at kinamusta dahil nabigla ako sa balita,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News.

One person was killed while 32 were reported wounded after two grenades exploded at the town plaza and town hall in Maasim. The town was celebrating the Kestebeng Festival when the twin blasts took place.

“The People’s Champ” went to St. Elizabeth Hospital Saturday evening and gave an initial amount of P39,000 to social welfare officials for assistance to the injured victims of the blast.

Pacquiao watched over some victims and talked to them.

Obligation

Pacquiao said he received the report of the blasts in Maasim town while he was attending a meeting in Malungon town of the tourism council of which he is the chairman.

He said he immediately asked where the victims were taken so he could immediately provide assistance.

When asked if his giving of help means “politicking” (pamumulitika), he reasoned, “Dati naman ako tumutulong. Tumutulong na ako sa hindi ganitong trahedya, dito pa kaya na talagang maraming nangangailangan, biglaan ang pangyayari. Bilang ambassador for peace, obligasyon ko iyon.”

He related, “Nakakaawa, lalo na may mag-asawa pa. Puro malubha sila. Mga inosente sila, ano lang sila, naglibang-libang lang sila. Pinasaya nila sarili nila at ganoon ang nangyari sa kanila.”

Pacquiao had earlier confirmed that he would run for the Sarangani seat in the House of the Representatives in the 2010 elections.

Dialogues

Pacquiao suggested that peace and order problems can be dealt with through dialogue. “Siguro gagawa tayo ng isang hakbang para tumahimik ang ating lugar at lahat ng problema nadadaan sa usapan.”

When pressed if what he meant was for a dialogue, Pacquiao said: “Pag-usapan kung ano ang mga problema. Lahat ng problema ay may solusyon ‘yan,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was also asked to comment on the situation of International Committee of the Red Cross staff member Eugenio Vagni, who has been held hostage for more than five months.

“Nakikiusap ako sa kanila na kung puwede pag-usapan natin at mapakawalan na, at wala naman silang kasalanan at kawawa naman,” Pacquiao addressed Vagni’s captors.

“Magtulungan na lang tayo kasi tayo may kaniya-kaniyang pamila rin tayo,” he added.

“Peace envoy” Pacquiao had previously called on rebels clashing with government troops to lay down their weapons for the sake of national unity.

Pacquiao was appointed by Malacañang as “Ambassador for Peace and Understanding”, in recognition for the wide support the People’s Champ has gained.

Malacañang has acknowledged the boxer’s ability to unite the country each time he fights overseas, which is why he was appointed as a peace envoy.

Both rebels and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are known to put their guns aside every time Pacquiao lays himself on the line against his boxing opponents like Oscar de la Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales.

Eve of town fiesta

The festivities on the eve of the Kestebeng festival of Maasim town were marred by the twin blasts Saturday night.

A grenade exploded in the middle of the fair (perya) in the town’s plaza where many were enjoying the rides and games set up for the town’s festivities. The blast left a one-foot deep crater.

After a minute, another blast hit near a store located in front of the town’s plaza.

Authorities recovered a safety lever of the grenade which exploded at the town’s plaza. They said however they could not yet determine the exact type of grenade.

One was confirmed dead in the deadly blasts and was identified as Gardo Rolion.

The wounded meanwhile were immediately taken to the town’s hospital. Due to the many cases however many were transferred to three hospitals in General Santos City.

Police said they have not yet identified the suspects in the blasts.

Intelligence information

They admitted however that they received intelligence reports two days before that an improvised bomb would be exploded in Maasim town.

Authorities said they also received on Saturday night information that a grenade would be exploded in the town.

They said they implemented preventive security efforts.

Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia, Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesman, said the attacks may have been carried out by the separatist MILF, citing the intelligence reports that the rebels had originally planned to plant home-made bombs in the town.

He also noted that last year, the MILF attacked the mostly-Christian town, killing and wounding several civilians.

Terror acts

Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon, Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the blasts were “a terroristic act.”

He said only the “lawless MILF groups” would be involved in the incident.

"So most likely, wala na tayong ibang pagdudahan, malamang sila rin may gawa nito," said de Leon.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez condemned the incident, saying "these acts of terror will only galvanize our resolve to protect our community and strengthen our unity. We will not be cowed into fear and submission."

Meanwhile, Maasim Mayor Anecito Lopez Jr. also condemned the blasts. He said however that the celebrations for the town’s fiesta would continue.

There was no immediate reaction from the MILF which has been fighting to set up a separate Islamic state in the southern Philippines since 1978.

The rebel group broke a five-year ceasefire with Manila in August, 2008, after the Supreme Court outlawed a proposed government agreement that would have given the insurgents virtual control over a large area in the south.

MILF fighters then pillaged entire villages and towns including Maasim, displacing more than half million people in the ensuing violence.

Despite efforts to restart the talks, fighting has recently stepped up in the south with about a hundred MILF fighters killed in the past two weeks, the military says. With reports from Jay Dayupay, ABS-CBN SOKSARGEN and Agence France-Presse