The Islamic State blew up a cathedral in the Philippines and killed 20 people | Chronic

Two explosions on Sunday rocked a cathedral on an island in the southern Philippines and killed at least 20 people, during an attack that appears to want to torpedo the peace agreement signed in the region between the national government and the separatist militias, and that would have been claimed. by the jihadist Islamic State (IS) organization.

The first explosion hit the cathedral door in the middle of Sunday Mbad and the second, outside the building, while groups of rescuers and police officers were trying to help the wounded and wounded. evacuate the survivors, the armed forces and the police told a joint statement, quoted by the news agency EFE

Tonight, the official balance left 20 dead and more than 110 wounded in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, some seriously.

A few hours later, the attack was attributed to the IE in a statement posted on Site, the site that usually publishes information about this organization and in which he stated that 40 people had been killed – among which seven officers of the security forces – and injured. more than 80, according to the ANSA agency.

The cathedral is located on the island of Jolo and in the city of the same name, which is also the capital of Sulu, the only one of the five provinces of the new autonomous region of Bangsamoro to have voted against its creation in the referendum of one week.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was the solution that in 2014 allowed the national government and the separatist militia Moro, Islamic Liberation Militias, to put an end to a five-decade armed conflict in the south of the country, a predominantly Muslim region.

After many twists and turns, the citizens of these southern regions mbadively ratified a week ago the peace agreement and the creation of the autonomous region.

The initiative garnered 87% support at the polls, but in Sulu province, where they attacked the cathedral today, it won the No.

"With this act of terrorism and the killing of soldiers and civilians, the enemies of the state have challenged the government's ability to guarantee the security of the citizens of this region, and the armed forces accept the challenge and will crush those ungodly criminals. "said the presidential spokesman, Salvador Panelo, in a statement.

For his part, the presidential adviser of national security, Jun EsperonHe directly linked the attack to the recent referendum and badured that the attackers would not be able to "ruin the preferences of a majority who bet for peace".

The presidential adviser for peace, Carlito GalvezMeanwhile, promised that the government will maintain its commitments with the popular decision made a week ago in the south of the country.

"We have come a long way to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao, it is not the moment to be fearful and intimidated by such an egotistical and cowardly act," He said in a statement.

No armed group has yet won the attack.

In Sulu, several Islamist militias linked to the Islamic State operate, such as Abu Sayyaf, Maute or the fighters for the Islamic liberation of Bangsamoro.

All were responsible for bloody attacks in the region and are considered one of the main threats to the peace agreement that ends a conflict that has claimed more than 150,000 lives.

The pope condemned the attack

Francisco asked for a prayer chain for the brutal attack in Jojo Cathedral in the Philippines. "May the Lord, Prince of Peace, convert the hearts of the violent and grant the inhabitants of this region a serene coexistence"affirmed the pontiff.