Sultan Kudarat church bombing injured two churchgoers.
An act of terror injured two people after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off outside a church in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat early Sunday.
Initial investigation revealed that the IED was wrapped with cellophane and placed on the church’s fence.
In a recent news report of Inquirer.net, Supt. Romeo Galgo, announced that the bomb went off around 6:40 a.m. in front of the main door of Our Lady of Hope Church in the village of Zaliao, Esperanza.
In a phone interview, Galgo said, “It was a cell phone-detonated IED (improvised explosive device).” He pointed out that IEDs are commonly used in terror attacks.
Recovered from the crime scene were a triggering device, 9-volt battery, plastic container, concrete nails and a SIM card that could lead to clues on who left the bomb.
Reports said that two church goers were wounded in a bomb explosion. They were identified as John Renan Escanilan and his girlfriend, Loren Erazo.
The two sustained wounds but were reportedly not directly hit by shrapnel, which instead damaged a vehicle parked in the area.
In a phone interview with Esperanza Mayor Helen Latog, she shared to the media that the people were very lucky that the blast occurred when they left the church.
Latog said a reward will be given for tips on the bomber’s identity. As no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
But a police intelligence officer said it could be a diversionary tactic as the military continued to launch air and ground assaults against the Maute terrorist group in Lanao del Sur province.
Furthermore, the archbishop of Cotabato province,Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, condemned the church bombing as “pure terrorism.”
Police and Army bomb experts were still at the site conducting an investigation.