Tragedy unfolded during a Catholic mass in the insurgency-hit southern Philippines as a bomb attack claimed the lives of at least three people, leaving seven others injured, according to officials.
The blast occurred during a regular service at Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi, the country’s largest Muslim city, during a Sunday gathering. Regional police Chief Allan Nobleza stated that investigations are ongoing to determine if the incident involved an improvised explosive device (IED) or grenade.
Mindanao State University, which suspended classes and heightened security on campus, released a statement condemning the violence, expressing solidarity with the affected Christian community.
Governor Mamintal Adiong visited wounded victims at a medical facility, as shown in photos posted on the Lanao del Sur provincial government’s Facebook page.
This incident follows a Philippine military air strike on Friday, targeting 11 Islamist militants from the Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines organization in Mindanao. The military revealed that the group had planned attacks in Maguindanao del Sur province.
Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The region has experienced prolonged unrest, marked by militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches, and public markets.
While a peace pact was signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014, ending their armed rebellion, smaller groups opposing the deal persist. These include militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group, along with communist rebels operating in the region.
Police are investigating whether Sunday’s attack is linked to Friday’s air strike or if remnants of the Marawi siege by Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups are involved, as indicated by Chief Nobleza.
