27 killed, 77 others hurt in Jolo cathedral blasts Sunday - PNP

After earlier reports that the number of casualties of the twin blasts that rocked the Mount Carmel Cathedral in the town of Jolo in Sulu province on Sunday morning had gone up to 27 dead and 77 wounded, the police has revised the number of those killed to at least 19 as of 2 p.m.

Police Regional Office-ARMM head Superintendent Graciano Mijares, who earlier told media in an update report that the number of casualties has gone up to 104, while 27 dead, corrected the number of killed to 20.

The dead included soldiers and civilians, mostly churchgoers.  Most of the wounded were civilians, but also included some soldiers and at least two police officers.


In an earlier interview, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that as of 10 a.m. 19 were reported killed (mostly soldiers) and 48 others were wounded in the twin blasts--one explosive went off inside the cathedral and the other outside, in the parking area.

Much earlier, Western Mindanao Command Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana told dzBB that the two explosions occurred at about 8:30 a.m. while a Sunday Mass was ongoing.

An investigation is ongoing on the incident, Albayalde added.



The twin blasts took place a week after the conduct of the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which has been deemed ratified by the Commission on Elections.

Majority of the people of Sulu voted against the BOL, which is envisioned to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. [LBG/BM, GMA News]