Philippine forces are on high alert following a bomb attack during a Catholic mass in a university gymnasium in the southern part of the country. The incident resulted in four fatalities and numerous injuries, and authorities have labeled it as an act of Islamist terrorism.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly condemned the attack, attributing it to foreign terrorists. He stated, “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society.”
The bombing occurred in Marawi, a city previously besieged by pro-Islamic State militants for five months in 2017. The incident followed the killing of 11 combatants in a military operation in Maguindanao del Sur, located 200km away.
President Marcos urged calm and took to the social media platform X to announce that he had instructed the national police and armed forces to ensure the protection and safety of civilians, as well as the security of affected and vulnerable communities. a bomb attack
Rest assured we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice.”
Regional military commander Maj Gen Gabriel Viray III said at least four people were killed by the explosion, including three women, and 50 others were brought to two hospitals for treatment of mostly minor injuries.
The explosion caused panic among dozens of worshippers and left the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground, said Taha Mandangan, the security chief of the sprawling state-run university campus.
At least two of the wounded were fighting for their lives, Mandangan said.
Army troops and police immediately cordoned off the area and were conducting an initial investigation and checking security cameras for any indication of who may have been responsible for the attack. Security checkpoints were set up around city.
Viray called the attack “a terror act”, speaking to reporters as explosive disposal experts were deployed.