Año: Indonesian suicide bombers behind Jolo cathedral bombing

Indonesian suicide bombers guided by the Abu Sayyaf group were behind the twin explosions at a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday.

Año said his sources point to a couple, whose identities are still being verified, as responsible for the bombings, affirming an earlier statement by President Rodrigo Duterte. 

"Hindi pa tapos yung ginagawang investigation but I have sources na itong pagpapasabog ay project ng Abu Sayyaf at itong foreign terrorists na affiliated sa ISIS," the interior chief told reporters in Palo, Leyte, where he attended a peace and order summit of barangay officials.

"Itong dalawang foreigner na ito ay kasama yung mga lokal na Abu Sayyaf ito'y nag-guide sa kanila paano makapasok dun sa simbahan," he added.

Asked about the nationality of the suicide bombers, the Cabinet official said: "Indonesian."

Año said the government has "continuing consultations" with Indonesian authorities with regard to the bomb attack.

At least 22 persons were killed while around 100 were hurt by the twin blasts that tore through the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo on Sunday morning.

Police and military investigators earlier said that the blasts were remotely detonated even pointing to a group of youths who were caught on CCTV outside the church premises around the time of the explosions.

The four supposed suspects have since been cleared by the authorities. Duterte, meanwhile, ordered the military to crush the Abu Sayyaf group by "whatever means." —LDF, GMA News