By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent .
THE Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) has claimed responsibility for the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday that left at least 20 people dead and over 100 others hurt.
The Site Intelligence Group, which monitors activities of suspected terror groups, said on its website that the Islamic State’s East Asia Province issued a formal communiqué claiming two of its members detonated two suicide explosive vests, one inside the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral and another one at the Roman Catholic church’s parking area.
It said the Isis claimed the responsibility through its “Amaq News Agency.”
The Armed Forces earlier tagged the local Ajang-Ajang group with links to the Abu Sayyaf as the perpetrators of Sunday’s bombings.
Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Gerry Besana said the suspects were identified through CCTV footages that were recovered by police and military investigators.
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal vowed to run after the group responsible for the bombings.
“I strongly commit, with the help of relevant agencies of government, to pursue the criminals with the full force of the law to ensure that the victims of this injustice will be prosecuted and punished,” Madrigal said.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Armed Forces Western Command spokesperson, said the first bomb exploded at around 8:28 am while the second exploded at the parking area just as responding soldiers from the 35th Infantry Battalion were arriving.
The second bomb was reportedly placed inside a utility box of a parked motorcycle.
Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, chief of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the bombs were exploded just before the start of the mass.
In a statement, Pabayo said he directed all the units under his command to “heighten the alert level and secure all places of worships and public places and/or areas of convergence.”
“We will further intensify our intelligence efforts and initiate pro-active security measures to thwart hostile plans. Kindly advise everyone to be also watchful and extra vigilant as well as report to the authorities any security related issues and concerns,” he said.
Madrigal said security operations are being conducted “right now all over the islands.”
Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said they condemn “this barbaric act of terrorists who indiscriminately attack the innocent civilians in Sulu.”
“We commiserate with the bereaved families of the killed victims. Rest assured that we will provide all necessary assistance to the wounded victims and the kin of the departed,” he added.
Sulu province rejected in last Monday’s plebiscite RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but will still be part of the Barmm because the law provides that the five-province, two-city Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) votes as “one geographical area.”
Sulu had earlier filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare RA 11054 unconstitutional as it questioned, among others, the provision that the votes in the component provinces and cities of Armm – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan – be treated as “one geographical area.”
The petition is still pending with the Supreme Court.
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