Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao- “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu this morning that took the lives of 20 innocent civilians and 7 members of the military”, said Mohagher Iqbal, Chair of the MILF Peace Implementing panel in a statement sent to Luwaran this afternoon.
The blasts happened about a minute apart while Mass was being celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo that also injured 77 civilians, and 15 soldiers.
“The MILF is ready to support efforts in the apprehension of the perpetrators of the senseless violence that occurred in a place of worship while people were attending the morning mass, “Iqbal said.
“This criminal act has no place in our civilized society especially that we are about to reap the fruits of our struggle with the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the just concluded plebiscite, “Iqbal added.
Witnesses said the first blast was inside the cathedral, sending sent churchgoers, some of them wounded, to stampede out of the main door, according to a report by Associated Press/Inquirer.Net.
DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a statement said, “I have directed our troops to heighten their alert level, secure all places of worships and public places at once, and initiate pro-active security measures to thwart hostile plans.”
“The enemies of the state boldly challenged the government’s capability to secure the safety of citizens in that region. The Armed Forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals,” Malacañang Palace said as quoted by Associated Press/Inquirer.Net.
In the same report by AP/Inquirer. Net, it quoted ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman saying that the bomb attack was done in a place of peace and worship, and it comes at a time when we are preparing for another stage of the peace process in Mindanao.”
“Human lives are irreplaceable,” he added, calling on Jolo residents to cooperate with authorities to find the perpetrators of this “atrocity.”
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