BCJP condemns Cotabato blast

Cotabato City
July 6, 2009


The Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace in the Philippines (BCJP) condemns in the highest possible terms the bombing incident that happened yesterday in front of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City at around 8:40am wounding 52 innocent civilians and immediately killing 5 others after the explosion.

BCJP is strongly:

CALLING the attention of the Philippine National Police and other security forces of the government to conduct immediate investigation on the causes of the incident squarely and bring this perpetrator/s into justice with due process;

ENCOURAGING families of those affected civilians to calm down and wait for the result of the investigation to avoid panic and possible religious conflict in the long run;

CALLING the attention of Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to tighten their security measures not only within the perimeters of Cotabato City but through out the region as we have known bombings is possible to any vulnerable crowded places;

CALLING the presence of the Bishops, Ulamas and Civil Society Organizations to observe sobriety, intensify unity at this time thru dialogues and consultations;

CALLING all civilians throughout the regions to be vigilant all the time.