President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27. Accompanying the President are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27. Accompanying the President are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27. Accompanying the President are Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan on one of the wounded soldiers he visited at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019. The President personally checked the condition of the soldiers who were wounded during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu last January 27. Accompanying the President is his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte salutes one of the wounded soldiers during his visit to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019. The President personally checked the condition of the soldiers who were wounded during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu last January 27. Accompanying the President is his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte salutes one of the wounded soldiers during his visit to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019. The President personally checked the condition of the soldiers who were wounded during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu last January 27. Accompanying the President is his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte looks on as his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, checks the condition of one of the wounded soldiers during their visit to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019. The President personally checked the condition of the soldiers who were wounded during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu last January 27. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte commiserates with the relatives of one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. Joining the President are Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte offers his condolences to the families of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. Also in the photo are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte offers his condolences to the families of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte commiserates with the relatives of one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte commiserates with the relatives of one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pays his last respects to one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte commiserates with the relatives of one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
JOLO, SULU — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, January 28, ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to crush the Abu Sayyaf Group after visiting the site of fatal bombings in Jolo.
“I ordered you to destroy the organization. I’m ordering you now: pulpugin ninyo ang Abu Sayyaf by whatever means,” the Commander-in-Chief strongly mandated the government’s forces after the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), through their local counterpart Abu Sayyaf, claimed responsibility for the bombings.
“Ang gawin ninyo, sabihin ninyo pagka-bobombahin mo ‘yang lahat…paalisin mo iyong mga tao. Paalisin mo ‘yung mga tao, ilagay mo dito kung saan ako…ako ang maggastos ng pagkain…lahat. Tapos plantsahin ninyo ng bala,” he added.
“Our duty is to protect the Filipino people. And second is that we have to preserve the nation. ‘Pag nawala iyang Jolo, maski isang island diyan, well, we have failed in our mission to preserve the territory of the Republic of the Philippines,” he continued.
The President expressed outrage over the terrorist attacks and said that despite the presence of rebellious groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front of Nur Misuari in Jolo, the Christians and Joloanos “continue to live here in peace together.”
“Meron tayong mga rebelde kagaya nila Nur Misuari…Murad…pero ang rebolusyon ho nila is territorial,” he said. Unlike the Abu Sayyaf, the group has “no ideology” and declared loyalty to the “evil movements” of ISIS.
Before his speech, President Duterte visited the bombed Catholic cathedral and inspected the area. There, he witnessed the massive destruction caused by the bombing attacks. He also met with the victims’ next of kin at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Multipurpose Hall, where he provided the victims’ families financial assistance and vowed to give justice to their loved ones.
The President also visited the wounded military personnel at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital. He provided the soldiers medical and financial assistance and awarded them the Order of Lapu-Lapu with Rank of Kampilan.
