Philippines: MILF condemns blast in Cotabato City

By S.Ahmet Aytac

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (AA) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has condemned a deadly explosion Monday outside a shopping mall in Cotabato City on the Philippine island of Mindanao.

The blast, which occurred around 1:49 p.m. along a street outside the South Seas Mall complex, left two dead and over 30 wounded, including children, according to local authorities.

"The MILF condemns in the highest possible terms the explosion that occurred in a shopping mall along Don Rufino Alonzo St. in Cotabato City. The dastardly act of putting an improvised explosive device (IED) with intent to kill or harm civilians is an act of cowardice, inhuman and atrocious,” the group said in a statement.

“We call on all peace loving citizens in the city of Cotabato to stand united in securing our community and ensuring that peace will finally reign in our homeland. This is not the time to be divided. This is the time to stand united.”

MILF said it condoles with the families of the dead and wounded.

Authorities discovered a second IED containing nails and metal ball bearings on the 2nd floor of the mall and disarmed it, according to Philippine news site Rappler.

The southern province of Mindanao, which borders Malaysia and Indonesia, has long been plagued by terrorist attacks.

At least 10 people were killed in July 2018 when militants struck a military checkpoint with a car bomb.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Moro rebel group in the Philippines, had forged the Bangsamoro Law with government representatives as one of the requirements of the peace agreement it signed in 2014 with then-President Benigno Aquino III.