PHILIPPINES - Bomb outside a church in Cotabato: 5 dead, dozens injured [AN]

[Catholic_Press]

The explosion occurred this morning during a Mass presided by Mgr. Orlando Quevedo. The prelate spoke only of “bombers”. The army accuses the Moro Islamic Front, which denies all responsibility. The strategy of tension benefits both groups.

Manila (AsiaNews) - Five people were killed and 45 people were wounded in a bomb explosion outside a church this morning in Cotabato on the island of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. The toll is provisional. The army suspects the attack to be the work of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but some of their leaders deny any responsibility.

The bomb, placed near a food warehouse outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, detonated as Archbishop Orlando Quevedo led Sunday celebrations. Among the dead, an itinerant street vendor, a female security guard who was watching the entrance of the church and a child of three years.

More…

 

[Evangel]

A foretaste of what awaits.

 

[Dale_M]

It is unclear who is behind this heinous attack. Often when terrorism is involved the responsible party brags about the deed. But even though the local Philippine military blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the MILF denied involvement:

We condemned this attack against innocent civilians, against the Church. This is against Islamic principle and against humanity," said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader.

Kabalu also assailed the 6th Infantry Division for quickly linking the MILF to the attack.

“This (accusation) is clearly aimed at maligning the MILF and portraying the MILF as a terrorist organization. The army has already blamed the MILF even if the police is yet to investigate the bombing. This could also be the handiwork of the military to create fear and chaos in Mindanao,” he said in a separate interview.

mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20090704233833

While I doubt that the Philippine military was behind the bombing, I’m not sure that the MILF was either. Perhaps a splinter group?

 

[Agenzia_Fides]

Cotabato (Agenzia Fides) – The hand of Islamic fundamentalists of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) could be behind the bomb blast yesterday, 5 July, which hit Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the city of Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, killing five persons and leaving about thirty injured. According to local army sources it is highly probable that the organisers were JI militants. It is known for certain that fundamentalist groups such as Dulmatin, Umar Patek, and Zulkifli bin Hir (experts in bombs for terrorism attacks) were in the area and that their goal is to destabilise this already tormented part of the southern Philippines. Police arrested and are holding a suspect for questioning.The Islamic separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has confronted Manila for years, with negotiations and warfare, has denied any involvement in the incident. The local Catholic Church has harshly criticised the horrendous attack and urged the faithful to pray for the victims and for peace in the Southern Philippines.The bomb exploded during Sunday Mass.as Archbishop Orlando Quevedo was concluding his homily. “Once again innocent civilians are victims of a massacre. Although perhaps the faithful were not the actual target of the attack, to place a bomb close to a place where people worship God is a vile deed which deserves the condemnation of all men and women of goodwill”, the Archbishop said and appealed to the faithful: “Let us pray for the innocent victims, for those killed and for those who are struggling between life and death in hospitals and for the grieving families. Let us pray the Lord will touch the hearts of the attackers and convert them from violence to peace ”. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2009 righe 27 parole 276)

Full article…