By John Rey Saavedra/PNA
CEBU CITY — The commander of the Armed Forces in the Visayas has condemned the bloody explosions in a church in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday, and at the same time vowed to continue to thwart any similar attempt to sow terror in the region.
Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Central Command, assured that the AFP in the Visayas “will continue its efforts to quell any attempt that would affect the normal situation in the whole region”.
“I have ordered all our troops, the Army, Navy and air force to closely monitor the maritime waters of the Visayas and all points of entry and exit in the islands of the region in tandem with other law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Clement condemned in the “strongest possible terms” the terror act that claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including some soldiers, and wounded more than 100 others.
“This kind of barbaric deed is aimed to undermine the resiliency of every peace-loving Filipino who has nurtured the bonds of unity in our nation despite our cultural and religious diversity,” he said.
The CentCom commander called on the people in the Visayas to be vigilant “and to work together to disrupt these terror groups in their plans to plant seeds of hatred among us.”
Cebu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Royina Garma told Cebu media that she will be deploying policemen in Cebu churches following the Jolo incident.
Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic archdiocese here has tightened security at the Cebu cathedral.
Fr. Ruben Labajo, team moderator of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, said the members of the clergy in Cebu are saddened by the attack, which happened inside a house of worship and while a mass was ongoing.
“We share the grief especially (by) the families of the victims. We are one with them,” he said in a radio interview.
