15 killed, 46 others hurt in twin blasts in Jolo — PNP-CIDG

In this photo provided by WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines, bomb victims receive treatment in a hospital after two bombs exploded outside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in southern Philippines where militants are active Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Philippine government says it will “pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators” behind bomb attacks that killed over a dozen people and wounded many more during a Sunday Mass at a cathedral on the restive southern island. (WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines Via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen people were killed while 46 others were injured in the twin blasts that hit the Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported.

According to the update issued by the PNP-CIDG at 11:40 a.m., five government troops, and 10 civilians were reported killed while 13 government forces and 33 civilians were left injured due to the explosion.

According to Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, a Mass was ongoing at the Marian Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel when a blast occurred inside the church.

READ: 2 blasts rock Jolo cathedral; 7 dead — reports

Another blast hit the parking lot of the cathedral while government forces were responding to the earlier explosion.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that the perpetrators of the explosion have yet to be identified and that police forces on the ground have yet to verify if the incident is in relation with the recently concluded Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite.

“Sa ngayon wala pa pong masabi yung ating mga ground forces dun no, ah wala din silang masabi kung yan ay may kinalaman dun sa katatapos lang na plebesito,” Albayalde said in a interview with dzBB. /je