The Philippines have been trying to co-exist for a long time. Despite a raft of concessions, it hasn’t been going well. This is just the latest act of Islamic violence against Christians. And it’s part of a long, bloody tapestry of Islamic massacres of non-Muslims.
Twin bombings Sunday at a cathedral in the restive southern Philippines have killed 20 people and wounded 81. Police say earlier death tolls were incorrect because of double counting.
The government, in a statement, has promised to hunt down the attackers “until every killer in brought to justice and put behind bars.” The statement said, “the ruthless perpetrators” will be shown “no mercy.”
The first bomb exploded during Mass inside the cathedral in Jolo, in the province of Sulu. As military and police forces rushed in to help, the second bomb went off.
This is a common Islamic terrorist tactic. It doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s particularly nasty.
Late Sunday, Islamic State’s news agency Amaq said the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Jolo is situated in a mostly Muslim region of the predominantly Catholic Philippines.
The blasts come just days after the region held an autonomy referendum, which was overwhelmingly approved. Sulu province voters, however, rejected the autonomy vote but it still will be part of the new entity.
One of the paths to 9/11 ran through the Philippines. The concessions to Islamic terrorism ultimately pose a threat to the United States.
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