COTABATO CITY — The death toll in the improvised bomb explosion that hit Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat province on Tuesday night rose to three as another victim died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in General Santos City.
Welmark John Lapidez, 25, a criminology student of Sultan Kudarat State University and a resident of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, succumbed to multiple shrapnel injuries in the head and body and expired at 8:55 p.m. Wednesday at the General Santos Doctors Hospital, according to Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue.
The mayor also announced the cancellation of all activities related to the town’s 104th Foundation Day and 7th Hamungaya Festival.
“For the safety of everyone, the crisis management committee decided to cancel the activities. Please understand,” Pallasigue said.
A special mass for those who perished and for those who remained in the hospital will be offered at 2 p.m. at the town hall grounds.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to arrive Thursday afternoon in Isulan to visit the wounded victims and receive security briefing from military and police officials. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
