Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has condemned a deadly bombing that took place during a Catholic Mass in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country.
At least four people were killed, and over 50 were injured in the blast. The incident occurred in an area that had previously been besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017.
Philippine President Marcos blamed “foreign terrorists” for the attack and stated that he condemned the “senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists.”
He emphasized that those who use violence against the innocent will be regarded as enemies of society. The Defense Secretary announced that law enforcement operations to bring the perpetrators to justice will continue, and there are “strong indications of a foreign element” in the bombing.
The blast in Marawi followed recent military operations against local pro-Islamic State groups in the southern Philippines. The military chief suggested that the bombing might be a retaliatory attack.
Security measures have been heightened in the country’s south and around the capital, Manila, with police checkpoints tightened to prevent possible follow-up incidents. The Philippine Coast Guard has also intensified pre-departure inspections at ports. The Mindanao State University, where the incident occurred, expressed condemnation and suspended classes until further notice.
