COTABATO CITY -- Suspected Moro rebels detonated a bomb near a Roman Catholic church in this city Sunday, killing at least five people and wounding more than 30 others.

The attack occurred around 8:40 a.m. Sunday in front of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon Avenue, this city while some of the victims were attending mass.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Two of the churchgoers were killed instantly in the attack and three others, including a militiaman, later died in hospitals.

Victims

Officials identified those killed as Ruby Ramirez, 43, of Barangay Bulalo in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; Prince Salem Cang Diaz, 9, grandson of journalist Patricio Diaz; Sergeant Recillo Collado of the Army's 38th Infantry Battalion; Paulo Kahar; and a still unidentified male believed to be suffering from a mental disorder.

Ramirez and the unidentified person died on the spot, while Kahar and Diaz died minutes after at the Cotabato City Emergency and Medical Specialist Hospital.

City Mayor Muslimin Sema said that among the wounded were six soldiers and militiamen who were in an Army van that passed by the cathedral when the explosive device, fashioned from a mortar round, exploded.

Among those wounded were Jay C. Cergas, 29, his wife Priscilyn, 27, and three-year-old son Vincent Jay; Datu Manod Abedin; Nestor Luna, 29; Rey Silo Callado, 38; Rosita Echavez; Sonny Ilian; Purificacion Alviar; Rodrigo Ominga; Mado Guiamad; Jocelyn Abdulla, 38; Ferdinand Benora, 27; Elmer Noble, 32; Gramatica Purling; Mohammad Tipadan; Maricel Escanel, 29; Jerrimae Dapilan, 18; Junreil Sayre, 9; Danisa Sayre, 11; Joeffrey Sayre, 1; Giovanni Lomigcit, 19; Jayvil Joy Caida, 13; and Sergeant Freddie Millan, a Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) commander.

They were rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center on Sinsuat Avenue in this city.

Six other victims identified as Aldrian Sinapilo, Amilil Kahabudin, Torla Arliechos, Jun Parcon, Weng Garcia, and Zacaria Ampang, were brought to Cotabato City Emergency and Medical Specialist.

The improvised explosive, which was set off remotely by mobile phone, was hidden near LC Omega Lechon House, situated in front of the church and beside the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building.

Cathedral guard Nestor Luna said shrapnel flew in all directions, inflicting wounds on his head, arms and feet.

"I wanted to help the wounded, but I felt dizzy and saw my white uniform soaked in blood. Somebody helped me walk away," Luna said.

"Whoever did this should know that they hit so many innocent civilians," he said.

Chief nurse Norma Reyes said at least seven of the wounded were in critical condition and needed surgery.

MILF

Major General Alfredo Cayton, chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said authorities have already arrested a man believed to be the bomber minutes after the explosion. He, however, refused to identify the suspect.

"Investigation is ongoing and we could not disclose the suspect's group in order not to jeopardize follow up operations," Cayton said.

The suspect is placed under the custody of the Cotabato City police, he said.

But in an Associated Press report, Cayton blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the attack.

"Nobody has the motive, the capability and the track record to carry out his terrorist attack except the MILF group," Cayton said.

Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu, however, denied his group was involved and condemned the bombing. He said the rebels would not do anything to foment a religious war.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romero Brawner said investigators were trying to determine if the attackers targeted the military van.

"They will hit any place where civilians congregate. They have no regard for life," Brawner said.

Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema, for his part, ordered a thorough investigation and the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack.

Condemnation

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, O.M.I., of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, condemned the latest atrocity in Central Mindanao and called it a "sacrilege."

"The Church they attacked is a place of refuge, even for criminals. People were worshipping when the bomb went off. This is not just a crime, this is a sacrilege," said Quevedo, who was the mass celebrator when the powerful blast happened.

Quevedo said he was concluding his homily when the bomb went off.

"When I heard the blast and saw smoke, I told my parishioners to stay calm and not to panic. But I can't control the crowd," he recounted.

Quevedo called on the Catholic faithful, well-meaning individuals, and those with other faiths to pray for the conversion of the bombers.

"Violence does not achieve anything. Violence begets violence. Let's all pray for the conversion of the bombers," Quevedo said in an interview over Oblate-run dxMS in this city.

At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI deplored the bomb attack.

"While I pray to God for the victims of this ignoble gesture, I raise my voice to condemn yet again the recourse to violence, which is never a worthwhile way to solve existing problems," Benedict told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.

Despite the attack, masses would still be heard at the cathedral.

Fr. Edwin de Gracia, parish priest of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, said there is no change in the schedule. "Our mass will continue as scheduled. We will celebrate the mass no matter what. This is a time to pray and ask for guidance."

Investigation

In Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in investigating and bringing to justice the culprits behind the bombing.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that Arroyo also directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist the victims of the blast.

Security forces are directed to get into the bottom of the blast, arrest those responsible (as soon as possible), and insure security of residents in the area, he said.

On allegations that rogue MILF members may be involved in the blast, Remonde is confident the incident would not derail the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro rebel group.

Cotabato City has been hit previously by deadly bombings blamed on Moro rebels and extortion gangs.

A bomb exploded at a Cotabato City bus terminal in February, wounding two people. In 2007, a bomb exploded in another terminal, killing a child and wounding 36 people.

In 2003, a soldier was killed in a bombing at an airport near the city. The attacks were also blamed on the Moro rebels. (MCM/BSS/AP/JMR/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)