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In the morning of January 27, 2019, two bombs exploded at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in
Jolo, Sulu Jolo, officially the Municipality of Jolo (; ; ), is a municipality and capital of the province of Sulu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 137,266 people. Etymology According to Dr. Najeeb M. Saleeby (1908) and ...
,
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. Twenty people were killed and 102 others injured. The bombings took place a week after the autonomy plebiscite held on January 21 for the creation of
Bangsamoro Bangsamoro, officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM; ; ), is an autonomous region in the Philippines, located in the southwestern portion of the island of Mindanao. Replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Minda ...
. It is believed that the
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; , ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, was a Jihadist militant and piracy, pirate group that followed the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It was based in and around Jolo and B ...
carried out the attacks, and the
Islamic State The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
claimed responsibility. President
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...
responded by issuing an "all-out war" directive against the Abu Sayyaf. The bombings were widely condemned by other countries and organizations.


Background

The bombings took place a week after the first part of an autonomous plebiscite held on January 21 to create the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Bangsamoro, officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM; ; ), is an autonomous region in the Philippines, located in the southwestern portion of the island of Mindanao. Replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Minda ...
(BAR). This region will include all of
Sulu Province Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu ( Tausūg: ''Wilaya' sin Lupa' Sūg''; ), is a province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago. It was part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), until the Supreme Court ...
, including the capital city of
Jolo Jolo () is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines and the primary island of the province of Sulu, on which the capital of the same name is situated. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a populatio ...
. Jolo is known to be a stronghold of the
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; , ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, was a Jihadist militant and piracy, pirate group that followed the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It was based in and around Jolo and B ...
group (ASG), an affiliate of the
Islamic State The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
terror organization, comprising activists from various clans or family-based factions operating under different commanders in the
Sulu Archipelago The Sulu Archipelago ( Tausug: Kapū'-pūan sin Sūg Sulat Sūg: , ) is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, in the southwestern Philippines. The archipelago forms the northern limit of the Celebes Sea and southern limit of the Sulu Se ...
: the group lacks a central command. Sulu was the only province to vote against the Plebiscite, by a margin of 163,526 (54.3%) to 137,630 (45.7%). Despite the results, Sulu Province would still be included in the BAR due to the high majority from other areas. The proposed Bangsamoro government planned to conduct crackdowns on firearms and local private armies and decommission their weapons once the new autonomous region is established. The
Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police (PNP; ) is the national police force of the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a pop ...
(PNP) believed the attacks were carried out by ASG members in revenge for the deaths of their relatives during the
Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...
(AFP) military operations against the group. Speaker of the
House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives (; '','' thus commonly referred to as ''Kamara'') is the lower house of Congress of the Philippines, Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the Senate of the Philippines as the upper house. The ...
,
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (; born April 5, 1947), often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001 to 2010 ...
, said
poverty Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...
was also a contributing factor to the bombings as part of the long-time violence in the
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
region. The
Abu Sayyaf Group Abu Sayyaf (; , ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, was a Jihadist militant and pirate group that followed the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It was based in and around Jolo and Basilan i ...
, or ASG, are known active kidnappers targeting foreigners in the waters of
Sulu Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilaya' sin Lupa' Sūg''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago. It was part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Autonomous R ...
and
Celebes Sea The Celebes Sea ( ; ) or Sulawesi Sea (; ) of the western Pacific Ocean is bordered on the north by the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea and Mindanao Island of the Philippines, on the east by the Sangihe Islands chain, on the south by Sulawes ...
. Abdullah Sandakan, a former
Jemaah Islamiyah Jemaah Islamiyah (, ''al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmiyyah'', meaning "Islamic Congregation", frequently abbreviated JI) was a Southeast Asian Islamist militant group based in Indonesia, which was dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in ...
(JI) militant based in the eastern Malaysian state of
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
in
Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...
island, named the ASG as "using
ransom Ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release. It also refers to the sum of money paid by the other party to secure a captive's freedom. When ransom means "payment", the word ...
money that had earlier been paid to the ASG for the release of an Indonesian hostage in their recent kidnapping as a fund for the bombings plot". Citing an unnamed Mindanao-based source, it was alleged a "huge sum" was paid by the Malaysian owner of the captive's fishing boat to secure the safe release of two Indonesian fishing boat workers that had been held hostage by the ASG (one had escaped his captors) abducted off Gaya Island off Semporna. Abdullah further alleged part of the ransom money was used by the ASG to pay villagers to shelter the bombing perpetrators.


Attacks

The
Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...
’ Western Mindanao Command (AFP WestMinCom) released
closed-circuit television Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance, is the use of closed-circuit television cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signa ...
(CCTV) footage of the bombing with the following timeline:
Timeline of the bombings (January 27): * 8:26 – People are shown going about Sunday errands. * 8:28 – First
improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional warfare, conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached t ...
(IED) exploded inside the cathedral. * 8:30 – From a different angle, people are seen walking towards the cathedral and running away as a second explosion rips through the Cathedral's parking area as troops from the 35th Infantry Battalion responded.
WestMinCom stated that the second IED was placed inside the utility box of a motorcycle parked outside the cathedral. Wounded individuals were immediately brought to the Integrated Provincial Health Office and Sulu Sanitarium for medical treatment. According to the
Department of the Interior and Local Government The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG; ) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety and strengthening local government capability aimed towards ...
(DILG), the perpetrators used a strategy similar to the
2002 Bali bombings The 2002 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist attacks on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attacks killed 202 people (including 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians, 23 Britons, and people ...
to inflict additional casualties among first responders. The explosive devices were estimated to weigh not less than two kilograms; with a
mobile phone A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...
suspected to have been used as a triggering device (recovered near the site). Based on a post-explosion investigation as confirmed by DILG, the explosive devices used were
ammonium nitrate Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, but does not form hydrates. It is predominantly us ...
pipe bombs.


Perpetrators and suspects' identities

The
Islamic State The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...
(IS) took responsibility for the bombings, which they said were committed by "two knights of martyrdom" against a "crusader temple". Philippine military and peace advocates blamed the ASG's Ajang-Ajang faction, citing evidence from military intelligence operatives stating that they had intercepted ASG plans to bomb other parts of downtown
Jolo Jolo () is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines and the primary island of the province of Sulu, on which the capital of the same name is situated. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a populatio ...
months before. Kamah, a brother of a slain ASG leader, has been tagged as the prime suspect in the bombings. A sub-leader of the ASG named Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan has been named another prime suspect in connection with the bombings plot as their faction too has connections to IS. On February 1, Philippine Interior Secretary Eduardo Año stated that two Indonesian suicide bombers were involved in the attacks, and were aided by local Abu Sayyaf who acted as guides. The bombers were mistaken for Malaysians; one of them, identified by ''
nom de guerre A ''nom de guerre'' (, 'war name') is a pseudonym chosen by someone to use when they are involved in a particular activity, especially fighting in a war. In Ancien régime, ''ancien régime'' Kingdom of France, France it would be adopted by each n ...
'' as Abu Huda, had been living in
Sulu Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilaya' sin Lupa' Sūg''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago. It was part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Autonomous R ...
province for some time. The second bomber was alleged to be Abu Huda's wife, who had arrived in the province a few days prior to the bombings. The woman is believed to have been the first bomber inside the cathedral, while her husband carried out the second blast at the entrance. PNP chief Oscar Albayalde explained that the Indonesian bombers sailed Southwest to
Jolo Jolo () is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines and the primary island of the province of Sulu, on which the capital of the same name is situated. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a populatio ...
from Lampinigan Island ( Basilan Province) on January 24 and stayed there for a few days. However, it could not be ascertained whether the two went to the island straight from
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
or had been around
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
island far longer. On February 4, the main suspect Kamah together with his four accomplices finally surrendered to the authorities following heavy military operations. The four other accomplices were identified as: Albaji Kisae Gadjali (alias "Awag"), Rajan Bakil Gadjali (alias "Radjan"), Kaisar Bakil Gadjali (alias "Isal") and Salit Alih (alias "Papong"). The PNP have filed murder charges on 5 of the suspects and 14 other suspects who remain at large (as of November 2019). The Philippine Interior Secretary. considers the suspect identification process as complete with the arrest of the five suspects and three others including the two dead bombers, although several others remain at large. The prime suspect Kamah denies all charges and any involvement in the bombings. The prosecution holds that eyewitness accounts form an adequate basis for
indictment An indictment ( ) is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that use the concept of felonies, the most serious criminal offense is a felony; jurisdictions that do not use that concept often use that of an ind ...
for Kamah and the other defendants. In July 2019, the
Indonesian National Police The Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated as POLRI) is the national law enforcement and police force of the Republic of Indonesia. Founded on 1 July 1946, it was formerly a part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, country's military si ...
(POLRI) confirmed Indonesian citizens involvement in the bombing. POLRI announced the couple identified as Rullie Rian Zeke (RRZ) and Ulfah Handayani Saleh (UHS) from
Makassar Makassar ( ), formerly Ujung Pandang ( ), is the capital of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, ...
,
South Sulawesi South Sulawesi () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province in the South Peninsula, Sulawesi, southern peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Selayar Islands archipelago to the south of Sulawesi is also part of the province. The capital and largest ci ...
. The announcement came after the POLRI arrested and interrogated two suspected militants affiliated to
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD, ) was an Indonesian terrorist group that was reported to be linked to the 2018 Surabaya bombings as well as the 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombings. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was reported as claiming r ...
(JAD)- a group in Indonesia with links to
ISIL The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signif ...
- who confirmed the deceased couple RRZ and UHS were also JAD members. In May 2019, intelligence by Malaysian Special Branch uncovered RRZ and UHS were earlier helped by two Indonesian militants with links to
ISIL The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signif ...
working as labourers in Keningau District of
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
in
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
with intentions to travel to the southern Philippines via confession of two suspects arrested by
Royal Malaysian Police The Royal Malaysia Police (often abbreviated RMP) (; Jawi: ), is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation, and its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. The ...
early in May. A subsequent POLRI arrest and thorough investigation of another group of Indonesian militants in
Padang Padang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of West Sumatra. It had a population of 833,562 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 909,040 at the 2020 Census;Bad ...
of
West Sumatra West Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. West Sumatra borders the Indian Ocean to the west, as well as the provinces of ...
in June 2019, confirmed the identity of RRZ and UHS. Through
deoxyribonucleic acid Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of a ...
(DNA) test by Indonesian police, the deceased couple family were able to be traced as both being Indonesian deportees from
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
serving under the direction of an
East Kalimantan East Kalimantan (Indonesian language, Indonesian: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. Its territory comprises the eastern portion of Borneo/Kalimantan. It had a population of about 3.03 million at the 2010 census (within the cu ...
JAD member named Yoga residing in
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
and recently arrested by the
Royal Malaysian Police The Royal Malaysia Police (often abbreviated RMP) (; Jawi: ), is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation, and its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. The ...
in
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
. Yoga are the current connectors of Islamist terrorists organization between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines replacing Andi Basso who is being actively hunted for his involvement in the 2016 Samarinda church bombing in
East Kalimantan East Kalimantan (Indonesian language, Indonesian: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. Its territory comprises the eastern portion of Borneo/Kalimantan. It had a population of about 3.03 million at the 2010 census (within the cu ...
. Andi Basso is believed by Indonesian authorities to be currently hiding in the Southern Philippines.


Investigation and government response


Further details

CCTV footage of the area depicts a person identified as Kamah, wearing a blue-green jacket and holding a mobile phone. Kamah, brother of deceased ASG leader Surakah Ingog, is seen wandering around the cathedral with several other suspects before the explosion. Kamah is a known
bomb maker A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanic ...
for the ASG, according to investigation reports released by PNP chief Albayalde. The
Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...
had released the images of four suspects in connection with the attacks as captured by the CCTV footage. The authorities, including the country's president, did not rule out the possibility that the explosion was the work of suicide bombers. Nevertheless, based on statements to the military by two surviving victims, eyewitnesses saw a woman hiding a bomb inside her bag and left it in one of the pews inside the cathedral where the explosion happened afterwards. Both witnesses, however, could not fully describe the woman's physical features. On January 30, two of the suspects that were earlier identified through the CCTV footage surrendered to police to clear their names; one of them was the suspect identified as the brother of deceased ASG leader. Another two followed suit, fearing the authorities would hunt them down, despite neither being identified by WestMinCom in the video that had been released. These four have been cleared and released although their claims of innocence will still require verification from the PNP, who admit they misidentified one man as Kamah. The PNP also admitted there were security lapses at the Cathedral despite previous threats for the past five years. Several other witnesses recalled seeing a woman who they suspected of bringing a bomb, but the claims are deemed "not conclusive" as based on the initial findings of the local PNP Explosive and Ordnance Division (EOD) lab. The EOD laboratory found the bomb did not touch ground when it exploded. Through the investigation on the Indonesian bombers arrival background, the PNP stated the couple boarded a
tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...
to
Caltex Caltex is a petroleum brand name of Chevron Corporation used in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Southern Africa. Headquartered in Singapore, it is also the brand name of non-Chevron petroleum companies in some countries (such as ...
Tiam at 19:00 on the evening after their arrival in
Jolo Jolo () is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines and the primary island of the province of Sulu, on which the capital of the same name is situated. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a populatio ...
. At 19:30, they were supposedly met by suspects identified as Papong, Awag and Radjan and boarded Awag's
jeepney A jeepney (), or simply a jeep (), is a type of Public transport, public utility vehicle (PUV) that serves as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. Known for its crowded seating ...
. The group then reached Usaw in Barangay Langhub to meet with several other suspects named Kamah, Barak, Makrim and Usman who joined them to Sitio Bastiong. In a forested area, the group is alleged to have planned the bombings together with ASG leader Sawadjaan. The Indonesian couple were sent by the ASG on January 26 to carry black trolley bags. They were escorted by Usman, Barak and nine other armed men to Barangay Latihto at 17:10. Despite the claim by Philippine authorities for the involvement of Indonesian citizens in the bombings, an investigation team sent by Indonesia to the Philippines to investigate were at that time unable to confirm that an Indonesian couple were behind the attack. The Indonesian Embassy in
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
said they remained unclear on the veracity of Philippine Interior Secretary Año's statement on their nationals involvement in the attack as DNA and the CCTV evidence had yet to be released to Indonesian authorities for verification. Philippine National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) also did not see the basis of Minister Año's statement. On February 20, the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory test results showed that four leg bone specimens of two unidentified persons among the bombing victims belonging to a male and female, which bolstered the probable involvement of said couple as corroborated by eyewitness accounts.


Authority's response and security force mobilization

Shortly after the incident,
Malacañang Palace Malacañang Palace (, ), officially known as Malacañán Palace, is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the Philippines. It is located in the Manila district of San Miguel, Manila, San Miguel, along Jose Laurel S ...
issued a statement that no mercy will be given to the perpetrators. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo stressed that "We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy". The Palace also stated the bombings provided "more reason" to retain martial law in the south. President
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...
expressed his outrage over the incidents and visited the site of the bombings the following day. The
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
stated that, despite the bombings, it did not see the need to place Jolo under its control and defer the upcoming February 6 plebiscite. The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (; ''Al-ḥukm adh-dhātī al-'iqlīmī li-muslimī Mindanāu''; ARMM) was an Autonomous regions of the Philippines, autonomous region of the Philippines, located in the Mindanao Island groups of the P ...
(ARMM) condemned the bombings in the "strongest terms" and has provided financial assistance to 36 of the over 100 survivors of the bomb attacks, with each victim receiving
The Philippine peso sign (₱) is the currency symbol used for the Philippine peso, the official currency of the Philippines. The symbol resembles a Latin script, Latin letter P with two horizontal strokes. It differs from the currency symbol u ...
20,000. Mindanao Development Authority chairman Abul Khayr Alonto also called the incident a "dastardly act of insanity" which "should not be allowed to instil fear in our peace-loving populace". WestMinCom confirmed that President Duterte had issued an "all-out war directive" order against the terror groups, with Jolo being put on total
lockdown A lockdown () is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely. The term is used for a prison protocol that us ...
. The Bureau of Immigration had also been put on heightened alert to prevent the entry of new foreign terror elements, while the
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB; ) is an agency of the Republic of the Philippines under the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The LTFRB was established on June 19, 1987, during the former president Corazon Aq ...
directed all public utility vehicles to implement stricter security; it also advised the public to report any suspicious activity in terminals and vehicles to authorities. During the joint raid conducted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Military and PNP in Barangay Latih of
Patikul, Sulu Patikul, officially the Municipality of Patikul ( Tausūg: ''Kawman sin Patikul''; ), is a municipality in the province of Sulu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 79,564 people. The provincial capitol and offices a ...
, to arrest Kamah, the suspect managed to escape even as one of his companions was killed. Among items seized during the raid were a . 45 calibre
pistol A pistol is a type of handgun, characterised by a gun barrel, barrel with an integral chamber (firearms), chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French ''pistolet'' (), meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the Englis ...
, a sniper scope, two
mobile phone A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...
s and a motorcycle. The military continued hunting for the suspect with
attack helicopter An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive (military), offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their ...
s deployed in the province, followed by house-to-house searches. Approximately 5,000 elite soldiers have been mobilized, with the military operations resulting in many families fleeing their homes. The continuing military operations resulted in the arrest and deaths of many ASG-linked militants.


Other reactions


Other militant groups

Moro Islamic Liberation Front The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF; ) is an Islamist group based in Mindanao, Philippines, which sought an autonomous region of the Moro people from the central government. The group has a presence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, t ...
(MILF) chairman
Murad Ebrahim Ahod Balawag Ebrahim (; Jawi: احد بلاوݢ ابرهیم; born May 15, 1949), better known as Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, is a Moro Filipino politician and former rebel leader who served as the first chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous ...
said: "The MILF leadership joined peace-loving individuals in strongly condemning the twin bombing of the Cathedral". MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal condemned the attacks perpetrated against innocent civilians, calling them: "senseless violence". He was followed by
Moro National Liberation Front The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF; ) is a political organization in the Philippines that was founded in 1972. It started as a splinter group of the Muslim Independence Movement. The MNLF was the organization most active in the Moro conf ...
(MNLF) chairman Yusop Jikiri, who stated that the bombings can: "only be the responsibility of terrorist, anti-peace, uncivilized and misguided persons". The MNLF under Emmanuel Fontanilla called upon the government to conduct peace talks with groups including ASG and the
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), also known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, is an Islamist jihadist militant organization based in Mindanao, in the southern Philippines. It is a smaller player in the overall Moro in ...
(BIFF), even if they are terrorists.


Religious community

The
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (abbreviated as CBCP) is the permanent organizational assembly of the Catholic bishops of the Philippines exercising together certain pastoral offices for the Christian faithful of their terr ...
released a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and their families, condemning the attacks as an act of terrorism. The bishops called for Christians to join with Muslims and indigenous communities to advocate for peace against violent extremism.
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
denounced the bombings, reiterating: "My strongest condemnation for this episode of violence that once again strikes this Christian community. I raise my prayers for the dead and wounded. May the Lord, Prince of Peace, convert the hearts of the violent and give the inhabitants of that region a peaceful coexistence". The
World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, most jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodo ...
(WCC) expressed profound sorrow and said "In the face of this brutality, the human family, all people of faith and of good will, must stand together to recommit to respecting and caring for one another, to protecting one another, and to preventing such violence". The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao has called on every churchgoer to refrain from bringing backpacks and boxes inside churches and chapels due to the threat of violence prevailing in the region of
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
in the wake of the bombings. Organization of the Imam Council of the Philippines (OICP) also condemned the attack, due to its: "barbaric nature which is forbidden in
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
", adding that such barbaric acts: "not only destroy the living of peace, but demolishes the tranquillity of a sound society". Another Islamic sect, the Ahlul Bait, said: "such a barbarous act must be condemned in the strongest terms".


Non-governmental organizations

Local human rights group
Karapatan Karapatan Alliance Philippines (commonly shortened to Karapatan, which translates to ''rights'' in Filipino) is a left-wing non-governmental organization and human rights alliance that conducts research and advocacy of human rights campaigns as ...
also condemned the attacks but reminded the government that the incidents should not be used as an excuse to violate human rights further, especially towards government critics. The
Makabayan Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan () or simply Makabayan is a coalition of twelve party-lists in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. It was founded on April 16, 2009. The founding assembly was held at the Bahay ng mga Alumni, UP Dil ...
bloc feared that the incident might be used to extend the declaration of
martial law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...
to the whole country. Dr. Rommel Banlaoi, Chairman of the non-government think tank, the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, warns that the Jolo Cathedral bombing will pose as "a big challenge for the Bangsamoro government."


International response

Various countries issued statements condemning the attacks and offering condolences to the affected victims, as well as international organizations including the
Asian Development Bank The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank to promote social and economic development in Asia. The bank is headquartered in Metro Manila, Philippines and maintains 31 field offices around the world. The bank was establishe ...
,
Association of Southeast Asian Nations The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 Sovereign state, states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its ...
,
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
,
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC; ; ), formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1969. It consists of Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, 57 member s ...
,
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, and
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
. UK's
Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 2 ...
raised a
travel warning A travel warning, travel alert, or travel advisory is an official warning statement issued by government agencies to provide information about the relative safety of travelling to or visiting one or more specific foreign countries or destinations ...
for Western and Central Mindanao as well as the Sulu Archipelago following the incidents. The bombings indirectly created negative impacts towards the
barter trade In trade, barter (derived from ''bareter'') is a system of exchange in which participants in a transaction directly exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money. Economists usual ...
between
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
and the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
with concerns raised from Filipino barter traders over their safety. Neighbouring
Royal Malaysia Police The Royal Malaysia Police (often abbreviated RMP) (; Jawi script, Jawi: ), is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation, and its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman, Kuala ...
(RMP) stepped up security in their
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
's state to prevent foreign terror groups transiting through Malaysian East Coast major towns like
Sandakan Sandakan () formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of the sta ...
and
Tawau Tawau (), formerly known as Tawao, is the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the third-largest city (or town)While Tawau have a population of more than 100,000 of which is considered city elsewhere in the world it is offic ...
prior to proceeding to the Southern Philippine islands. Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman instructed all of Malaysian enforcement agencies: the
Police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
,
Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (: MAF; ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 ...
,
Civil Defence Department From 1935 to 1971 civil defence in the United Kingdom was the responsibility of the Civil Defence Department and resulted in the establishment during 1957 of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation. On the run-down of civil defence ...
and
Eastern Sabah Security Command The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) is a Malaysian security area that covers 1,400 km of the east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau. It was announced on 7 March 2013 by Musa Aman, the Sabah State Chief Minister. Its purpose is to ...
(ESSCOM) to increase the border security since they did not want the repetition of
1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
, where many Southern Filipino refugees fled to Sabah as a result of the
civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, considering the many social problems associated with the refugees still being reported. The Indonesian Consulate in
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
issued a statement of "no knowledge" of any ransom paid by any parties for the release of any citizens from ASG abductors in recent kidnappings, in response to claims made by former JI member that ransom money was used in part of the bombings, adding that the
Government of Indonesia The term Government of the Republic of Indonesia (, GOI, sometimes also referred to as Government of Indonesia or the Central Government () especially in laws) can have a number of different meanings. At its widest, it can refer collectively ...
did not even communicate nor negotiate with the kidnappers for their release. Earlier on January 16, the Director of the Indonesian Citizens Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Muhammad Iqbal also rejected any claim about the use of ransom money, saying the hostages were released through the collaboration of an "inside network" between their government and Indonesian "assets" in the southern Philippines. Indonesian Foreign Minister Ms.
Retno Marsudi Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi (born 27 November 1962) is an Indonesian diplomat who formerly served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Joko Widodo between 2014 and 2024. She is the first female minister appointed to the pos ...
condemned the bombing and sent condolences, and clarified their stance that the Indonesian embassy in
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
and their Consulate General in Davao were still attempting to get definitive information from various parties consequent to Minister Año's claim of Indonesian citizens' involvement. Director of National Agency for Combating Terrorism (BNPT) Irfan Idris stated as of February 3, 2019, formal verifications of Indonesian involvement had not been received by Indonesian Head of Police Public Information Section Senior Commander Syahar Diantono nor by Co-ordinating Minister of Interior Minister
Wiranto Wiranto (born 4 April 1947) is an Indonesian politician and retired army general, who is serving as the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council, since December 2019. Previously, he was the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces from Febr ...
. Indonesian anti-terrorism Detachment 88 team with
Indonesian State Intelligence Agency State Intelligence Agency may refer to: * State Intelligence Agency (Bulgaria) * State Intelligence Agency (Indonesia) See also * Defence Intelligence Agency (disambiguation) * National Security Agency (disambiguation) * National Intelligence Agen ...
(BIN), BNPT and representatives of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry had also been flown to
Jolo Jolo () is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines and the primary island of the province of Sulu, on which the capital of the same name is situated. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a populatio ...
to assist in the identification of the suicide bombers. On January 30,
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
offered Ft 30 million (₱1.89 million) as emergency assistance to the victims of the bombings through the Hungary Helps Program.
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
via its Manila Embassy pledged a total of RMB5 million (₱38.8 million) for those affected in the bombings. China,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
,
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
have also expressed their commitment to help the Philippines in their fight against terrorism in their country.


Related incidents

A few days after the cathedral bombings, following a televised statement by President Duterte that "the attacks may have involved a suicide bomber", a
grenade A grenade is a small explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a Shell (projectile), shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A mod ...
was thrown into a
mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...
in the village of Barangay Talon-Talon, southeast of
Zamboanga City Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (; ; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Bagbenwa Sembwangan''; Sama–Bajaw languages, Sama: ''Lungsud Samboangan''; ; ; ) is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city i ...
. This resulted in the death of two civilians and the wounding of three others. Beng Climaco, the mayor of Zamboanga City, ordered the
military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
and
police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident, which they feared was "a consequence of a tension between Muslims and Christians" resulting from the Jolo Cathedral bombings.


See also

* 2020 Jolo bombings


Notes


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jolo Cathedral bombings, 2019 21st-century mass murder in the Philippines 2019 in Christianity 2019 murders in the Philippines Abu Sayyaf attacks Church bombings in the Philippines 2019 building bombings 21st century in Sulu 2019 disasters in the Philippines Incidents of anti-Catholic violence Holy See–Philippines relations Islamic terrorist incidents in 2019 January 2019 in the Philippines January 2019 crimes in Asia Mass murder in 2019 Persecution of Christians by ISIL Terrorist incidents in the Philippines in 2019 Church bombings by Islamists Anti-Christian sentiment in the Philippines Suicide bombings in the Philippines Suicide bombings in 2019 Crime in Mindanao