Cotabato Archbishop condemns Isulan bombings

COTABATO CITY: Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, DD, archbishop of Cotabato condemned the two bombings in the town of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Quevedo said the true believers in God have to cry out in outrage at the terrorist bombings in the Isulan adding that all religions are religions of peace.

He said the two bombings in

September 2, have mercilessly snuffed out the lives of at least five innocent people, including two young men who were active in their Catholic youth ministry. Scores of others, equally innocent, have been wounded, he added.

The Islamic State (IS) reportedly claimed responsibility for the

Some sectors suspect the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that had also pledged allegiance to IS. However, all the three BIFF factions have vehemently denied the accusations saying how could any member of their group bring an improvised explosive device and penetrate the heavily guarded town of Isulan without being detected.

“In either case, religion is distorted in order to commit brazen crimes that cry out to heaven,” Quevedo said.

“As the religious leader of all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cotabato, I absolutely condemn these terroristic acts. I enjoin every true believer in the one true God, by whatever name the almighty and merciful God is called, to pray for the victims and for their families,” the cardinal’s statement said.

Quevedo said, he is strongly urging the military, security and peace officers with the collaboration of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, now forces for peace,

bring them to justice.