US Embassy condemns deadly Cotabato blast

MANILA, Philippines — The US Embassy in the Philippines on Wednesday condemned the deadly bomb attack in Cotabato City.

“The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines condemns the recent bombing in Cotabato,” it said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines condemns the recent bombing in Cotabato. We offer condolences to the loved ones of the victims and hope for a quick recovery for the injured. pic.twitter.com/GoWvJbxMeC

— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) January 2, 2019

The Embassy also extended its condolences to the families of the victims of the blast and hoped “for a quick recovery for the injured.”

READ: 2 dead, scores wounded in Cotabato City mall blast

It noted the “longstanding” relationship between the United States and the Philippines and expressed readiness “to provide continued support for the peace process in the southern Philippines.”

On December 30, an explosion outside a shopping mall in the southern city of Cotabato killed two people and injured 34 others.

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde  described the deadly blast as a “cowardly attack” against civilians.

READ: PNP condemns deadly blast in Cotabato City as ‘cowardly attack’

The police said  it is eyeing the possible involvement of local terrorist groups inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the bombing.

READ: ISIS-inspired groups eyed in Cotabato blast — PNP

Malacañang, meanwhile, vowed to “get to the bottom” of the explosion at the “soonest possible time.”

“We empathize with the families, relatives and friends of those who suffered from this unhappy occurrence,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an earlier statement.

READ: Palace vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Cotabato City mall blast

“To them we vow that we will get to the bottom of this at the soonest possible time,” he added. /ee