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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
MANILA, Jan 27 (APD) -- Eighteen people died while 83 others were wounded in the twin blasts that rocked the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral this morning.
Lt. Col. Gerry M. Besana, chief, Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Mindanao Command’s chief public information officer said 12 civilians died with five soldiers and one member of the Philippine Coast Guard.
In a statement released at 7:39 P.M., Sunday, Colonel Besana said of the 83 wounded were 65 civilians, 16 elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and two Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
He said majority of the victims were innocent civilians inside the church to attend the regular Sunday Mass.
As of 6:00 P.M., Sunday, Besana said 18 of the wounded, compsoe3d of 15 civilians, two Philippine Coast Guard personnel and a soldier where evacuated from Sulu to Zamboanga City through their air ambulance.
Evacuation is still going on as of this writing. The AFP Western Mindanao Command said based on closed circuit television footages, they believe the “Ajang-Ajang group” was responsible for the bombing.
Colonel Besana has not provided backgrounders on the so-called “Ajang-Ajang group.”
Meanwhile, the World Bank said aside from extending its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent bombings in Jolo, they are saddened by the attacks “which marred with violence an otherwise peaceful and successful democratic exercise to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
In a statement released at 8:11 P.M., Sunday, the World Bank said they stand ready to extend support to the Philippines “through our longstanding and ongoing partnerships for peace and development in Mindanao.”
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
