VICE President Leni Robredo condemned the bombings that struck a church in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday, January 27, which killed at least 20 people and wounded scrores of others.
"Nakakalungkot. Nakakalungkot na sa panahon na umaasa tayo na matutuldukan na iyong lahat na kaguluhan dito sa Mindanao, mangyayari iyong ganito," Robredo said.
Robredo, who was among those invited to the wedding of Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong's son Mohammad Khalid "Mujam" Adiong in Cagayan de Oro City, also called for justice to be served immediately to prevent something similar from happening again.
"Itong nangyari sa Sulu, napakalungkot. Sana hindi na ito maulit muli. Mahalaga na kung sino iyong mga salarin dito — saka iyong mga biktima, mabigyan talaga ng katarungan. Kasi kung hindi, parang na-e-embolden lang iyong iba na gumawa pa ng mga similar na hakbang," she said.
According to Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde, the first blast occurred inside the church around 8:58 a.m., while the second happened at the church's parking area at least 15 seconds later.
The incident happened two days after the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was ratified by residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The “No” votes, however, prevailed in Sulu during the BOL plebiscite.
"Maraming nagsasabi na kaya ayaw nila ito kasi hindi naman nito maso-solusyonan iyong maraming suliranin. Pero hindi natin kasi siya tinitingnan na solusyon—tinitingnan natin siya na paraan para mahanapan ng solusyon," Robredo said.
"Mahalaga na iyong mga may pakiramdam na hindi sila napapakinggan, mabigyan ng isang plataporma para iyong boses nila, para walang takot na naipapaabot," she added.
The vice president also mentioned that they have already formed a task force assigned to immediately respond in times of calamity.
"Noong nalaman ko iyong bombing, in-alert ko na iyong teams na mag-monitor at maghanda na baka sa lalong madaling panahon, kailangang mag-deploy kami dito ng teams para iyong mga biktima at iyong pamilya ng mga biktima, matulungan kaagad," Robredo said.