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Canada PM Trudeau, EU condemn Jolo church attack


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the European Union joined the international community in condemning the bombing of a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo on Sunday that killed at least 21 and injuring 111 others.

"An attack on people attending Sunday services is a despicable act of cowardice," said Trudeau on Twitter.

Canada, he said, "strongly condemns" the cathedral bombing in Jolo, Philippines.

"My deepest condolences to all the families affected by this tragedy," Trudeau said.

The European Union headquarters in Brussels also sent its condolences to the victims of bombing.

"A human tragedy, this is also an attack against the basic right to practice one’s religion," said EU spokesperson Maja Kocijsncic in a statement.

Two bombs exploded minutes apart aduring a Sunday Mass at the Jolo Cathedral.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic State but blamed on the Abu Sayyaf Group by the Philippine military, occured days after the conduct of the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Majority of the people of Sulu voted against the BOL.

The European Union maintains it "fully supports the Mindanao Peace Process and last week’s plebiscite on greater Bangsamoro regional autonomy."

"The EU plans to continue such support in the future," it said.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is on the US and Philippines list of terrorist groups was behind numerous terror attacks around the country, several kidnappings of foreigners and is notorious for beheading its captives if their ransom demand is not met.

Philippines-US counter-terrorism cooperation has successfully led to the killing of key local terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao, but the group continues to thrive even as its members have dwindled in recent years. —KBK, GMA News

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