Attack sparks worries over peace process

IS group claims credit for blasts that killed 20 at Cathedral in Philippines

The Islamic State claimed credit for the bombings of a Catholic cathedral that killed at least 20 in southern Philippines, putting fresh pressure on peace efforts aimed at ending decades of extremist violence in the region.

Two explosions tore through the cathedral, shattering pews and windows, on the Muslim-majority island of Jolo, killing worshippers at a Sunday mass and security forces. More than 100 were wounded in one of the nation's worst bombings in years.

The IS group, in a formal communique issued on Sunday, said two suicide bombers from the group had detonated explosive belts without providing evidence for its claim.

But local media said the second bomb was left in the utility box of a motorcycle in the parking area outside the church. Police said they believe the explosives were detonated remotely, but did not elaborate.

Despite the contradictions, authorities have not ruled out IS involvement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news conference on Monday that China strongly condemns the violent attacks against innocent people, mourns the victims and offers condolences to the injured as well as families of the victims.

China opposes all forms of terrorism, Geng said, adding that the country stands ready to work with the Philippines and the international community to jointly counter terrorist threats and challenges to safeguard the peace and stability of the region and the world.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his top security officials were scheduled to visit the Catholic cathedral late on Monday.

Duterte had met with some of the survivors and held a security meeting with military and police officials. Police have put forces around the country on heightened alert to prevent similar attacks.

"We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy," the president's office said earlier.

In a statement, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana condemned the bombing and said he has directed troops to "heighten their alert level" and secure places of worship and public spaces.

The island of Jolo is a base for Abu Sayyaf extremists who have carried out years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings and have aligned themselves with the IS group. It is blamed for an attack on a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 that claimed 116 lives in the country's deadliest terror assault.

A top Philippine government official told The Associated Press that an Abu Sayyaf commander, Hatib Sawadjaan, is one of the main suspects.

At least four of Sawadjaan's men were filmed by security cameras near the bombed area, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

'Huge human tragedy'

Some experts were worried the attacks would be a blow to the new developments in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, which endorsed a new autonomous region in the southern Philippines in hopes of ending nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead.

"It's a terrible human tragedy, it's also a development tragedy," World Bank economist Andrew Mason told reporters.

"When we see conflict areas, when we see ups-and-downs and negative impacts due to violence and conflict, what we see also is these are development opportunities that are squandered," Mason added.

Meanwhile, condolences poured in from around the world for the victims at the cathedral, which has been repeatedly targeted by grenade attacks in recent years but they did not prove fatal.

In a statement attributed to a spokesman, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and reiterated the UN's support for the Philippines' efforts to fight terrorism and to carry forward a peace process in the Muslim region.

Contact the writers at panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn.

AP, AFP, Reuters and Xinhua contributed to this story.

(China Daily 01/29/2019 page12)