Suspect in Jolo cathedral bombing killed, others escaped

ONE was killed while two others, including the alleged suspect in the Jolo cathedral bombing Sunday, escaped in a hot pursuit operation conducted by the police on Tuesday evening, 29 January, authorities said.

Army releases images of teen suspects in Jolo bombing

The Army released Monday night the images of three of the four suspects in the bombings on Sunday of the Jolo Cathedral, that left 20 people killed and at least 100 others injured, as captured by a nearby closed-circuit television camera (CCTV camera).

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.

President Duterte to seek Misuari's help to end conflict in Mindanao

MANILA - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte considers the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman, Nur Misuari, as someone who can help in resolving the conflict in Mindanao, Malacanang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a Palace media briefing, was responding to a question if the President counts Misuari as a threat to the success of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).



"Not really a threat.  He (Duterte) considers Nur Misuari as someone -- with his group -- who can help in ending the conflict in Mindanao," Panelo said.

Panelo said Misuari had told him that the MNLF leader wanted to talk with the President to share many ideas that he can contribute for the peace, prosperity, and progress in Mindanao.

"I relayed that to the President.  And so, the President is wanting or open to talking to him with respect to whatever suggestions he has in mind," Panelo said.

Asked to comment on Sulu's 'no' votes in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite, Panelo clarified that other leaders in Sulu prefer federalism than the BOL.

"The President will respect the sovereign will of a particular electorate.  But winning doesn't mean that they will go against the law," Panelo said.

"I talked with [Sulu governor] Abdusakur Tan and he said he is not really against Bangsamoro Organic Law.  They want, just like Nur Misuari, they want federalism better.  Oh, ibig sabihin (which means), if federalism is better, Bangsamoro Organic Law is good; kaya lang may (but there is something) better," he said.

Reports said about 163,500 voted against the BOL, while 137,630 supported the measure in Sulu during last Monday's plebiscite for the BOL ratification.

A second plebiscite is set on February 6 in six Lanao del Norte towns and in 67 villages in North Cotabato. [Earl Jed Roque, PNA]