Secretary Abella initially reported there were 10 casualties in the twin explosions in Leyte town but later clarified it was a false alarm
Malacañang Palace officials called false alarm over ‘miscommunication’ in the information earlier spread over the twin bombings that rocked Hilongos town in Leyte province on December 28, Wednesday night.
More than 30 individuals were reported injured in the two incidents of explosion that took place while the crowd was busy watching a boxing match as part of the annual Roman Catholic festival at Hilongos.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella apparently used “unverified figures” in an official statement of the Malacañang Palace on the number of reported casualties from the twin explosions.
In a message sent to the members of the media at early Thursday morning, Secretary Abella said ten people died while 20 others were injured in the blast, quoting Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo as source of information.
The claim on the figures came in the form of an erratum included at the end of his message, which was also posted on the official Facebook page of PTV4 on Thursday morning but was later taken down.
The message said that there were no intelligence reports regarding bomb threats and there was also no one who claimed responsibility got the bombing, which used improvised explosive devices or IEDs.
But later, Taguiwalo admitted that the information she relayed was prematurely given and was incorrect.
“The info sent to me last night and forwarded to Spox Abella was unofficial”, said Sec. Taguiwalo.
The report regarding the deaths, which was sent from the DSWD Region 8 office, was a false alarm.
“Update po sa bombing incident sa Hilongos Plaza. False alarm po ang earlier reported na 10 persons”, clarified Taguiwalo.
(Here is an update on the bombing incident in Hilongos Plaza. The report earlier spread saying there were 10 persons who died in the incident was a false alarm.)
It was further clarified that there were 32 persons injured and no one died.
The Philippine National Police Regional Command identified the 32 individuals who were injured in the blast. They include: Vicente Nunez, 24; John Reynal Lamo, 15; Jessica Geli, 19; Jun Rey Lumbre, 20;Ricardo Regaton , 53; Joseph Ryan Bohol, 24; Aldrin Goltiano, 19; Kevin Manicar, 13; Domingo Oliva, 60; 11.Jay Miguel Liba, 15; Cristita Ano-Os, 47; Letecia Liba, 55; Christian Lelis, 14; Rudy Bulfa, 33; Erwin Liba, 33; Elmer Rebullos, 27; Giselle Managbanag, 25; Leonilo Villaro, 28; King Michael Melgazo, 15; Roselyn Lasmarias, 42; Doroteo Libres, 50; Guillermo Solera; Wilbert Fornis Alingasa, 14; Idinio Abes, 31; Rogelio Managbanag, 26; Marcelina Abina, 67; Marnilo Macarat Lusuegro; Mary Grace Judias, 20; Joel Mamalak, 14; Chris Angel Abina, 7; Christian Prado Liba, 12; and Jessie Abina, 32.