Death toll in Jolo church bombings rise to 22

COTABATO CITY — The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said another victim of the Jan. 27 twin bombings at the Jolo Cathedral died at the Zamboanga City hospital.

Colonel Gerry Besana, speaking for the Westmincom, said the death toll in the explosions at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo rose to 22 with the passing of Thelma Villanueva, one of those seriously hurt on Sunday’s blasts in Jolo airlifted to Zamboanga City Medical Center. She succumbed after her life support was removed on Thursday.

“(The removal of life support) was with her family’s consent,” Besana told the Inquirer.

The remains of Villanueva were brought by her family to Basilan.

Besana said as of 1:30 p.m. Friday, the official number of victims of the Jolo church bombings was 123. Of this number, 22 were killed that included six soldiers, a Philippine Coast Guard officer and 15 civilians; and 101 wounded, 14 of them soldiers, two Coast Guard personnel, and 85 civilians./lzb