'Desecration': ISIS Behind Deadly Double Bombing that Killed 27 Churchgoers?
MANILLA – The Islamic State group, ISIS, has allegedly claimed responsibility for the deadly twin bombings that hit a Catholic Church in Jolo, Sulu in the southern Philippines, on Sunday morning.
The first bomb went off inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the 8:30 Mass. And as police and soldiers rushed to help the wounded, a second bomb exploded at the car park. The double blasts left at least 27 dead and more than 100 injured.
Former Bishops Angelito Lampon and Orlando Quevedo, who have served the church in Jolo since after World War ll, described Sunday's bombing as "desecration of a sacred place."
In a joint statement they said, "We strongly appeal to our security and military forces to flush out the perpetrators of this barbaric crime and bring them to justice. May the One God of all preserve us from evil and lead us to the way of peace."
The deadly bomb attack poses as a challenge to the Bangsamoro Organic Law that has just been ratified in a recent plebiscite in Mindanao. The Law is envisioned to end the 50-year conflict in the region and bring peace by granting an expanded autonomy to the Muslim Filipinos in their homeland.
The Philippine Armed Forces have heightened security measures in Mindanao to prevent other terrorist attacks from happening especially in the areas where a second plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law is taking place next week.
In this plebiscite, other municipalities will be voting for inclusion in the new expanded autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao.
