President Rodrigo Duterte visited Jolo, Sulu on Sunday to condole with the families of the 14 soldiers and civilians killed by the twin blasts that rocked the town last week.
Duterte, in photos posted by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, was seen kissing the ground where the bombings occurred.
President Rodrigo Duterte kisses the blast site of the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu (Photo from Sen. Bong Go’s Facebook page)
“Hinalikan niya ang lupa sa mismong lugar ng pagsabog, bilang pag-alala sa mga inosenteng buhay na nawala at mga nasugatan,” Go wrote in a Facebook post.
Duterte offered flowers and prayers and gave assistance to the blast victims during the visit.
“Right now, our entire nation is dealing with the global health crisis yet enemies of the state will still find the energy to perpetuate the acts of violence and terrorism,” he told the military in a speech in Jolo.
“Now more than ever our nation needs our Armed Forces to ensure that these terrorists will never succeed in their pointless goals. By choosing to fight for your country here in Sulu, you honor the ultimate sacrifice of your fellow soldiers and the countless others who fought before you,” he said.
Malacañang earlier denounced the explosions, believed by the army to have been perpetrated by Abu Sayyaf Group members. John Ezekiel J. Hirro