Senators call on police to conduct ‘thorough investigation’ into Jolo blast
Credit to Author: hniitsu| Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2019 06:34:53 +0000
MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — Senators expressed outraged on Sunday as they called on the police authorities to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the blasts that happened in Jolo, Sulu, early Sunday.
Angara urged the authorities to go after the perpetrators of the bombing incident as they should be held accountable for the death of dozens of individuals.
“I call on our police authorities conduct a thorough investigation, go after the perpetrators and hold them accountable for this cowardly act. The innocent victims deserve justice,” Angara said in a statement.
READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 27; 77 others injured
Senator Bam Aquino also called on the authorities to probe the incident as he reminded the public in Jolo, Sulu to remain calm and vigilant amid the blast.
“Nananawagan tayo sa mga awtoridad na tugisin ang mga nasa likod ng pambobomba at papanagutin sa kanilang ginawa upang mabigyan ng katarungan ang mga biktima,” he said.
“Manatili rin sanang mahinahon at mapagbantay ang lahat sa harap ng tangkang ito na idiskaril ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao,” Aquino added.
Senator Nancy Binay also urged the police to “look deeply” why such incidents happened in the region as she raised questions such as: why is peace so elusive?
“Nakakalungkot dahil matagal nang minimithi nating lahat ang ganap na kapayapaan. Don’t we all want peace?” Binay asked.
“Why is peace so elusive? Ano ba ang mas makakabuti sa tao at sa bayan: Digmaan, terorismo, o kapayapaan?” she added.
The twin blast happened in Jolo, Sulu came two days after the ratification the Bangsamoro Organic Law that aims to solve the conflict in Mindanao.
READ: Yes votes have it: Law creating Bangsamoro region ratified
“It is quite saddening that while there are initiatives to finally end the conflict to have permanent peace, there are also those who continue to terrorize and find ways to derail and impair the gains for peace,” Binay said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III meanwhile tagged the incident as “the highest form of cowardice” as it attacked innocent and helpless.
According to the data of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, at least 27 individuals were already reported killed from the incident.
Seven of which were members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while 20 of them were civilians.
Data also showed that the number of injured individuals already reached 77 as of 1:10 p.m.
With this, Angara expressed concern and outraged over the twin blast that hit the Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu.
“I am deeply concerned and saddened by the twin explosions that rocked the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu this morning,” Angara said.
“But most of all, I am outraged that the bombings had reportedly killed five innocent individuals. This senseless act of violence must be condemned at the very least,” he added.
Senator Koko Pimentel meanwhile called on the public not to be distracted by “violent elements” as the region tries to attain peace.
“Let us not be distracted and defeated by warmongers and violent elements in our midst,” Pimentel said.
“We have come such a long way in our quest to realize the peace we have long desired for Muslim Mindanao. Let’s not allow it to be derailed this time,” he added.
Both the PNP and the AFP condemned the attack as the two agencies of the government vowed to probe and identify the perpetrators of the bombing. /je
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