Malacañang condemned the twin bomb attacks that took place in a Roman Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday, which left 20 people dead, including five soldiers, and 80 others wounded.
“We condemn in the strongest possible term the bomb explosions that occurred inside and outside the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo this Sunday morning which left many soldiers and civilians dead and scores injured,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said the Palace expressed its sympathies to the families of the victims and assured that law enforcement authorities are now on top of the situation.
“We condole with the families of the victims that perished in this tragedy even as we attend to the injured and give succor to their families,” Panelo said.
“Authorities are now investigating these brazen attacks, which includes identifying the group behind the blast,” he added.
Panelo described the explosions as “an act of terrorism” and noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will eliminate the attackers.
“By their act of terrorism and murder of soldiers and civilians, the enemies of the state have boldly challenged the capability of the government to secure the safety of the citizenry in that region,” Panelo said.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals,” he added.
Panelo, meanwhile, vowed that the government will bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy,” Panelo said.
Reports showed that two improvised explosive devices exploded one after the other at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Barangay Walled City, Jolo.
Sulu police director Senior Supt. Pablo Labra II said the first IED exploded around 8:15 a.m. Sunday inside the church and the second, a minute later outside the cathedral. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
