Jolo bombing a ‘desecration’ of a sacred site – Church leaders

Two Catholic Church leaders on Sunday described the bombing of a  Jolo, Sulu cathedral as the "most heinous desecration" of a sacred site.

Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and Archbishop-elect Angelito Lampon, both formerly assigned to Jolo, pointed out that the attack took place during a sacred day and during a sacred moment of worship.

They called the incident "a satanic act that all sacred religions must condemn."

Quevedo and Lampon also demanded justice for the victims of the bombing and that they were praying for the grieving families.

At least 19 people died, including church-goers and government troops, after two improvised explosive devices went off at the cathedral on Sunday morning. Dozens of others were injured.

Having recovered and reviewed CCTV footage, authorities said that an Abu Sayyaf subgroup, the Ajang-Ajang group, were likely be behind the attack. — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News