Suspects in Jolo cathedral used Bali-style bombing — DILG

The perpetrators of the bombing incident at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu used a certain bombing strategy, similar to the one used by violent extremists in Bali, Indonesia to inflict worst form of harm among its targets, authorities said Monday.

"Tinatawag natin 'tong maximize the number of casualties. This is what they did in Bali, Indonesia during the time of J. I. (Jemaah Islamiyah) Pagkatok ng isa, the tendency, the crowd will look for the exit and then doon magko-course lahat. Another explosion," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in Emil Sumangil's report on GMA's Saksi.

At around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, an explosive device went off inside the cathedral while a Holy Mass was ongoing.

A few seconds later, another one exploded near the main entrance of the church.

The twin blasts killed at least 20 people, including parishioners and soldiers manning the security post at the church. Ninety-eight others were wounded.

In a separate interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, the parish priest of the cathedral said that the second explosion caused more harm than the first blast.

"Iyon po 'yung devastating na mas talagang mapaminsala na bomba... mas marami pong casualties 'yung pangalawang pagsabog," Fr. Jefferson Nadua said.

According to police, some shrapnel from the explosion were recovered as far as 500 feet from the church.

The explosives used were estimated to weigh not less than two kilograms and a cellphone suspected of having been used as a triggering device was also recovered.

"Ang sinabi lang ng ating EOD (Explosive Ordnance Division), ang ginamit nila ay G. I. (galvanized iron) sheet parang pinagagawa ng stainless jeep. Probably as big as a container, canister nung mga gatas na two kilos," Philippine National Police chief Director-General Oscar Albayalde said.

According to a post-blast investigation, a pipe bomb with ammonium nitrate was used.

Officials are not also discounting the suicide bombing angle.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bloodshed but the military eyes an Abu Sayyaf subgroup, the Ajang-Ajang Group, that may possibly have a hand in the attack. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News