By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid the tensions that gripped Marawi City following the Sunday blast during a Catholic mass at the gymnasium of Mindanao State University (MSU), Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. on Monday ruled out that it was a “suicide bombing” that the Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack which killed at least four people and injured 50 others.
In a statement on its Telegram channels, the IS group said that “soldiers of the caliphate detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of Christians… in the city of Marawi.”
To recall, Marawi City — the country’s largest Muslim city — was besieged by pro-IS Maute and Abu Sayyaf extremists, including foreign and local fighters — in 2017 during the previous Duterte administration.
After five months of fierce gunbattle, the Philippine military recovered the ruined city and more than 1,000 lives had been wasted.
“Hindi (suicide bombing),” Adiong Jr said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
For his part, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra strongly condemned the Sunday bombing and urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain united.
“Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,” Gandamra said.
(ai/mnm)