Davao bombing death toll rises to 15

DAVAO CITY — The 21-year-old pregnant woman, who has been in coma for the past 11 days since the deadly bombing at a night market here September 2, died Monday evening at the Metro Davao Medical and Research Center (MDMRC).

In a press statement from the City Information Office (CIO), Vicenta Depalubos Asperin, who was six months pregnant, died of heart failure and brain damage, and raised the death toll from the bombing incident to 15.

City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) Chief Luisa Bermudo said the unborn daughter could not be included in the death count because she remained inside her mother’s womb.

“They were not separated,” Bermudo said.

The CIO report said Asperin “was one of the severely injured victims in the September 2 blast” when a splinter “entered her nose and went straight to her brain.”

The report added that, according to the victim’s brother Gregorio Depalubos, Asperin was declared brain-dead by her attending physician a few minutes before she expired.

“The doctors declared her brain-dead and she expired just after a few minutes,” Depalubos said.

Depalubos recalled that immediately after the bombing, his sister, who was one of the massage therapists working at ground zero of the bombing, had even asked him what had just transpired, and that she could not recall anything untoward happening to her.

“Before she was brought to the hospital, she even asked what has happened to her. And she fell into a coma after,” he said.

“We want justice,” he said. “I hope the people responsible are arrested and that they are made to pay for what they have done. My sister didn’t do them wrong. She was innocent and she was pregnant. It is too much. They have to pay,” he said.

When the bomb went off, Asperin was attending to client, Daniel Larrida, 12, who was among those who died instantly.

Vicenta was initially identified as 27-year-old Vicenta Depalubos, sans her married name.

Her family decided to move her to a private hospital after seeking the advice of their doctors at the government-run hospital.

According to Depalubos, the private hospital offered a more controlled environment.

She said that there were media outfits who insisted to get into the ICU to take footage of their relative.

According to the doctors at the private hospital, this may have contributed to the infection.

Vicenta was in a coma after having shrapnel inside her head.

Doctors at the SPMC initially conducted surgery to reduce swelling.

The city government has promised to provide for the expenses of all the victims of the blast, including burial, wake, and other expenses.

Vicenta’s remains have been taken to the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels where they will be prepared for transfer to the family residence at the Barangay Sto. Niño relocation site.