Vigilance urged in BARMM after attack on Cotabato chapel

Presidential peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday urged residents of Cotabato City and other areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to "remain vigilant" following Sunday's grenade attack on a chapel.

"We urge everyone in Cotabato City and across the region to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the proper authorities," Galvez said in a statement. 

"Let us all work together to prevent such tragedies from happening again, and to help foster a more peaceful, inclusive and harmonious environment that respects the diverse faiths within our communities."

Two women were injured after a grenade thrown by an unidentified man on board a motorcycle exploded in a chapel in Barangay Rosary Heights 3 in Cotabato City before midday on Sunday.

The victims, aged 40 and 65 years old, were attending a fellowship at the chapel when the grenade went off. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.

In his statement, Galvez said the grenade-throwing incident "is a direct attack on the Filipino people's commitment to religious freedom and peaceful co-existence and blatant disregard for human life."

"The national government will ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be held accountable for their actions," he said. "Authorities will exert all efforts to go after those responsible and bring them to justice."

Police have identified the suspect, who is facing frustrated murder charges, but did not disclose the name.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the incident. —KBK, GMA Integrated News