ASEAN strongly condemns MSU bomb attack

The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN on Friday strongly condemned what it called a "heinous terrorist attack" in the southern Philippines during last weekend in which four people were killed in a bombing at a Catholic Mass.

The bomb went off on Sunday during a service at a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city left in ruins in 2017 by a five-month military campaign to end an occupation by Islamic State loyalists that triggered alarm in Asia about the group's influence.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families," the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said in a statement.

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said "foreign terrorists" were behind it and police said they were investigating the incident and validating the claim by the Islamic State group.

Police had identified as suspects two members of Daulah-Islamiyah Maute, a local group involved in the 2017 seizure of Marawi alongside fighters from Indonesia, Malaysia and beyond.

The Philippine military on Friday announced the Dec. 6 arrest in Marawi of a man suspected of placing the bomb in the gymnasium having been being identified by witnesses.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office (AFP PAO) chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, the suspect, identified as Jaffar Gamo Sultan alias Jaf and Kurot, was arrested on Wednesday in Barangay Dulay Proper in Marawi City.

Sultan is allegedly one of the companions of a certain alias Omar, the man tagged as the one who brought an improvised explosive device to the Dimaporo Gymnasium inside the university.

Trinidad said two motorcycles were recovered during the operation that netted Sultan, who is described as an "accomplice" in the bombing attack.

The search is ongoing for the other suspects involved in the incident, Trinidad said.

The Philippine Department of Justice said it is "grateful for the solidarity shown by the ASEAN community."

"While we have started our efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, we welcome any future assistance that the ASEAN may extend to further enhance intelligence to prevent any similar incident from happening again," DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said when asked for comment.

"Rest assured, we are committed to establishing peace and order in our beloved country," he added.— Reuters with GMA Integrated News