MANILA – Nineteen people were killed while 48 others were hurt in a bombing incident at Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said in a statement that most of the casualties of the twin bombing incident held inside and outside of the cathedral were soldiers.
“The CPNP condemns the bombing at Jolo Cathedral at Jolo, Sulu,” Albayalde said. “The CPNP have already ordered for the conduct of a thorough investigation on this incident to ensure the immediate arrest of the suspects.”
In a separate radio interview, Albayalde said that they still do not have a lead as to the culprit of the bombing and they are still looking on the possibility of it due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
“Sa ngayon wala pa tayong masabi kung sino ang nasa likod ng pagsabog na ito,” Albayalde said in an interview with DZBB. “Tinitignan din ‘yung grupong Abu Sayyaf at kung may kinalaman doon sa Lamitan bombing noon.”
He added: “Hindi rin natin masabi kung may kaugnayan ito sa nangyaring (ratification) ng Bangsamoro Organic Law. We are looking at all angles kaya pinamamadali na natin ang investigation.”
Western Mindanao Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana has earlier said that the two explosions occurred at about 8:30 a.m. while a Sunday Mass was ongoing.
The bombing incident occurred a week after the conduct of the plebiscite on the BOL, which has been deemed ratified by the Commission on Elections.
Majority of the people of Sulu voted against the BOL, which is envisioned to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao./PN
