ANOTHER victim of the deadly explosion at the Roxas Night Market passed away Monday night, September 12, along with the six-month-old baby she was carrying, 11 days after the latest terror attack to hit Davao City.
Vicenta Depalubos-Asperin, 21 years old, a massage therapist who worked at a nearby massage parlor where the blast took place, died at around 10:17 p.m. on September 12 as reported by the Metro Davao Medical and Research Center (MDRMC).
Based on a medical report, Asperin succumbed to heart failure and brain damage.
The unborn child also died, but authorities said the latest fatality will be counted as one, bringing to 15 the death toll in September 2 deadly explosion.
Meanwhile, seventy others were injured.
"Based on the notes from the Local Civil Registrar, the counting should be one because the unborn baby remained inside the mother's womb. They were not separated," Maria Luisa Bermudo, City Social Services Development Office (CSSSDO) chief, said.
Asperin was among the severely injured victims of the explosion, having a splinter enter her nose that went straight to her brain.
Gregorio Depalubos, her brother, said she was declared brain-dead by her attending physician a few minutes before her last breath.
“The doctors declared her brain-dead and she expired just after a few minutes," Depalubos said in vernacular.
Depalubos said that before falling into a coma, his sister appeared clueless on what had happened 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 continued.
Depalubos and the rest of the family cried for justice.
"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,” Depalubos said.
John Lord Asperin, Vicenta’s husband, was in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley when the blast happened.
The two got married last March and are expecting their first baby girl by December.
Authorities said they have already identified the main suspect of the explosion, but they refused to reveal further details of the identities as the investigation is still ongoing.