(UPDATED) - The death toll from the twin explosions that struck a church in Jolo, Sulu Sunday, January 27 increased to 27, according to the police.
The Western Mindanao Command, however, reported a lower casualty count of 18 dead and 83 wounded.
As of 2 p.m. Sunday, the Westmincom said those killed were five Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel, one Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel and 12 civilians.
Among the wounded were 16 AFP troopers, two PCG men and 65 civilians.
The casualties were transported to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Station Hospital and Integrated Provincial Health Office-Jolo.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police Director Graciano Mijares, on the other hand, said 20 civilians and seven soldiers were killed while 77 people were wounded.
The wounded included two policemen, 14 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel and 61 civilians.
The incident happened at least a week after majority of the residents of Sulu voted against the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
But the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers, reported an overwhelming number of “Yes” votes at 1,540,017 compared to the 198,750 “No” votes in the entire ARMM.
Westmincom spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana said based on report, the twin explosions happened between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
He said the first blast happened inside the cathedral just before the start of a Mass while the second transpired a minute later at the parking lot of the church.
“Nasa labas, nasa paligid lang sila (troops) usually ganyan naman pag may Mass or nagce-celebrate ng Mass o even mga kapatid nating Muslim pagka meron itong pagsamba, may mga nakabantay talaga sa perimeter,” said Besana.
(The troops were just outside, guarding the perimeter. They usually provide security whenever there is a Mass or when our Muslim brothers are in prayer.)
“What happened was when the bomb or the IED (improvised explosive device) exploded nagresponde sila (troops), lumapit lahat even those who are near or in the vicinity lumapit din kaya dumami ang casualties,” he added.
(What happened was when the bomb or IED exploded, all the troops in the vicinity responded which was why the number of casualties increased.)
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde both ordered the government forces to immediately secure the area and conduct an investigation to catch the perpetrators.
Albayalde said among those considered as possible suspects in the bloody incident was the local terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
“According sa ating provincial director, ang tinitingnan nilang grupo ay yan din po ‘yung Abu Sayyaf at tinitingnan nila kung merong kinalaman doon sa Lamitan bombing noon ‘yung sinasabi nilang Moroccan na napalakas nung pumutok. Isa nilang tinitingnang anggulo yan, of course ‘yung mga members ng ASG,” he said.
Albayalde was referring to the July 31 explosion in Lamitan City where the IED was placed inside a van.
Killed in the Lamitan bombing were a soldier, five Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) personnel and four civilians, including a child and a woman who were relatives of the slain Cafgu personnel.
“Ang tinitingnan nila ay possibleng related doon dahil malakas ang threat kasi base sa mga intelligence information na nakukuha ng ating mga ground forces,” Albayalde added.
Lorenzana asked the public to be more vigilant and cooperate with the authorities in reporting any security-related concerns.
He also called for calm and appealed to the people not to spread panic in their respective communities “to deny terrorism any victory.” (SunStar Philippines)