(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte was “angry, disappointed” upon learning of the bombings in Jolo, Sulu that killed at least 20 and injured 81 others.
“He was so angry, for one. For another, he is so disappointed that despite the movement to tread the path towards peace and development, there are still certain forces in that region who sow terror and kill and murder people,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
According to Panelo, Duterte has “already ordered the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to undertake measures so that this incident will not happen again.”
He also defended the third martial law extension in Mindanao, saying it should be imposed all the more because of what happened.
“With more reason, martial law should be in place because if you can do that under a martial law regime, then the more reason you should maintain it and be more strict in the implementation of security measures in that area,” he said.
President Duterte is slated to visit the site of the blasts that took place after the Commission on Elections deemed ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The BOL, which aims to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a more autonomous Bangsamoro, was rejected by Sulu.