Duterte to visit Jolo after twin blasts

President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacanang photo / ACE MORANDANTE

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Jolo on Monday after twin explosions hit a Roman Catholic cathedral there, killing at least 20 people and leaving 81 others injured.

His trusted aide Christopher “Bong” Go said the President was already informed of the incident.

“We will go there tomorrow,” Go said in Filipino in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Malacañang has condemned the explosion and vowed to “crush” the “godless criminals behind the incident.”

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals. We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“We condole with the families of the victims that perished in this tragedy even as we attend to the injured and give succor to their families,” he added.

READ: AFP to ‘crush godless criminals’ behind Jolo twin blasts — Palace

The twin blasts happened days after the plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL)  happened in Mindanao. /je

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