President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) “by whatever means” following the bombing at a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu.
Following his visit at the blast site where more than 20 people were killed and 111 others were injured, Duterte ordered the military to relocate civilians in the area.
“I ordered you to destroy the organization. I’m ordering you now: pulpugin (pulbusin) ninyo ang Abu Sayyaf by whatever means,” Duterte said.
“Ang gawin ninyo, sabihin ninyo pagka-bobombahin mo ‘yang lahat… paalisin mo iyong mga tao. Paalisin mo ‘yung mga tao, ilagay mo dito kung saan ako… ako ang maggastos ng pagkain… lahat. Tapos plantsahin ninyo ng bala,” he added.
On Sunday, a bomb exploded during a mass attended by more than 100 people before another bomb went off at the cathedral’s parking lot moments after.
A CCTV footage of the twin bombing was later on released by authorities which shows three men fleeing the scene only a few seconds before one of the bombs exploded.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesperson for the military’s Western Mindanao Command, the three men caught in the footage were in the act of detonating a bomb.
In an interview with Dobol B sa News TV, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that one of the men seen in the video who was wearing a blue-green jacket was identified as Alyas Kamah, who is a member of Ajang-Ajang, a group affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf.
Authorities are asking residents to help them know the whereabouts of the suspects.
