Jolo cathedral bombed: Bishops call attack as ‘most heinous desecration’

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu has been witness to many acts of terror and violence with the latest bombing incident last January 27 as the ‘most heinous desecration’ to date. Church leaders are calling for justice while they also appeal to continue the pursuit of peace here in Mindanao. (File photo by John Frances C. Fuentes)

Several times, this cathedral in Jolo, Sulu was attacked but the latest bombing in January 27 has been the most heinous desecration of a sacred place.

According to the two former religious leaders of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, the attack dome “on a sacred day, and at a sacred moment of worship” is satanic.

Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and Archbishop Angelito Lampon deplored the twin bombings that happened during the Sunday Mass at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo killing 21 and injuring at least 80 people.

Five soldiers and several civilians were among those killed when a bomb exploded inside the cathedral at about 8:30 AM. Then a few seconds later, another explosion happened at the parking lot.

“It is truly a satanic act that all sacred religions must condemn,” said the two former religious leaders of Jolo.

“This is the action of evil people with utter disregard for the sacredness of human life and of human dignity,” they said in a report posted in CBCP News.

The Jolo bloodshed happened a week after a majority of voters approved the creation of the Bangsamoro which will give Muslims more control over their own affairs including governance.

Sulu voted against creating the new region, but it will still be part of the Bangsamoro as voters from the current autonomous region are in favor of it.

The church leaders also appealed to authorities “to flush out the perpetrators of this barbaric crime and bring them to justice.”

“We entrust the innocent victims to the Lord’s compassion and pray for their grieving families,” they said.

Archbishop Quevedo once served as parish priest of the Jolo cathedral while Abp. Lampon was the bishop of Jolo prior to his appointment as archbishop of Cotabato.

“We condole with the families of the several soldiers and civilians who were killed by the explosions,” said Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President in a statement in behalf of the bishops after their Plenary Assembly.

“May all our religions of peace guide us in our quest for a brighter future for the peoples of Mindanao,” the bishops said.