Palace condemns deadly twin blasts in Sulu cathedral

Malacañang on Sunday condemned the twin explosions that rocked a cathedral in Sulu province that left at least 19 people dead and dozens wounded.

"We condemn in the strongest possible term the bomb explosions that occurred inside and outside the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo this Sunday morning which left many soldiers and civilians dead and scores injured," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in statement.

Police Regional Office-ARMM head Superintendent Graciano Mijares told Super Radyo dzBB in an update report that as of 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, 27 people were killed in the explosions while 77 others were wounded.

However, the PNP Public Information Office later said that as of 2 p.m., the death toll was at 19.

Mijares also later said that the number of dead had been misreported and was in fact 20.

Panelo said authorities are already investigating the attacks and identifying the perpetrators.

"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.

Panelo said this "act of terrorism" of the enemies of the state have challenged the government's capacity to ensure the safety of the residents in Mindanao.

"The armed forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals," he said.

"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," he added. —Erwin Colcol/LBG/BM, GMA News