77 injured
(Eagle News)–The death toll in the twin blasts at a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday, Jan. 27, has reached 27.
In a radio interview, Supt. Graciano Mijares, head of the regional police, said as of 1:30 p.m. 77 were wounded in the two explosions that hit Marian Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel while a Catholic mass was ongoing.
Of the 27 fatalities, 7 were reportedly soldiers and 20 were civilians
“The motive is surely… terrorism. These are people who do not want peace. It is sad that this happened right after the Bangsamoro law was ratified,” Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, regional military spokesperson, said.
The blasts took place after the Commission on Elections deemed ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law, following the overwhelming yes votes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Sulu, a bailiwick of Moro National Liberation Front’s Nur Misuari, had rejected the ratification of the law, which sought to replace the ARMM with a more autonomous Bangsamoro.
Another plebiscite is slated on Feb. 6 in selected areas.
President Rodrigo Duterte has thrown his support behind the ratification, saying BOL was the solution to Mindanao’s problems.