'One unbelievable, tragic moment,' Garin says of Batasan bombing
Tuesday's bombing of the Batasang Pambansa's Southwing was described by Ilongga solon Congresswoman Janette Loreto-Garin (First District) as "one unbelievable tragic moment."
And for the right wrong reasons too particularly since seconds after the blast, she was among those first to respond to the injured and the dying.
A doctor by profession, Garin shared with The News Today (TNT) how she was jolted from her spot just above the blast site. Instinctively, she ran towards the destruction seeing bloodied colleagues and terrified congressional staffers.
In an interview, the lady solon told TNT she ordered security to force-open the door of the in-house medical clinic. She then got emergency supplies, put on a pair of surgical gloves and began to work her way towards the casualties.
"There was destruction seemingly everywhere. There was tremendous smoke then a fire broke out. I yelled for help to nobody in particular, asked that somebody get a car to bring the injured to the hospital," she shared. "It was terrible."
Garin personally attended to the injured staff of a colleague as she was then asked by another to help a badly injured driver of yet another solon.
One woman congressional staffer who appeared most serious was accompanied by Congresswoman Garin when brought to the hospital. She also had to help resuscitate the woman along the way in several times that her vital signs fluctuated.
Reporters out to get medical bulletins of the injured were also asking for Garin's help alongside the assistance sought by fellow workers of the injured.
"We had to make do with the situation and the decisions were made by the minute even though there were appeals for the injured to be brought to a different hospital. In the end, we had to pool in our efforts and what the hospitals had in order to have immediate emergency treatment," she added. "It was one very draining night but I was very glad that people came to help."