UN body deplores ‘heinous,’ ‘cowardly’ attack in Jolo cathedral

In this photo provided by WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines, a soldier views the site inside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in the southern Philippines after two bombs exploded Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The Philippine government says it will “pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators” behind bomb attacks that killed over a dozen people and wounded many more during a Sunday Mass at a cathedral on the restive southern island. (WESMINCOM Armed Forces of the Philippines Via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has “condemned in the strongest terms” the twin bombings in a Jolo cathedral in Sulu, describing the deadly incident as “heinous and cowardly terrorist attack.”

UNSC in a statement on Tuesday also appealed to member-states worldwide “to cooperate actively” with the Philippine government in addressing terrorism, as it stressed the urgency “to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack that took place at Jolo Cathedral in Sulu, Philippines, on 27 January 2019, which resulted in 20 killed and wounded dozens other, for which Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) has claimed responsibility,” UNSC said.

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of the Philippines and all other relevant authorities in this regard,” it also said.

According to UNSC, the double explosions at Marian Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel “reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.”

“The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” the UN body noted.

UNSC then extended its deepest condolences to victims’ families and the Philippine government, as it hoped for the “speedy and full recovery” of those injured in the attack.

READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 25, with 111 others injured

The military earlier said it is looking at the Ajang-Ajang faction linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as the perpetrator of the bombings. But a report said the ISIS owned up to the deadly incident, citing the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activities. /kga

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