Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros strongly condemned on Tuesday the reported bombing in Lamitan, Basilan that resulted in the killing of 11 people.
鈥淚 mourn with the people of Mindanao over this horrifying attack. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their terrible loss, and wish the injured their full and speedy recovery,鈥� Hontiveros said in a statement.
She called on authorities to immediately conduct an investigation and to bring to justice all those responsible for this 鈥渄espicable and cowardly act.鈥�
鈥淭he administration must secure the peace in the region. It must see to it that this incident will not derail our efforts to achieve peace and prosperity in the region, especially with the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL),鈥� said the senator.
The law that would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was just recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Duterte signs Bangsamoro Organic Law
鈥淚 stand with the people of Mindanao at this critical time. I join them in condemning this kind of violent extremism,鈥� Hontiveros added.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, hopes that this incident would prod the government to step up its intelligence and security capabilities to address this 鈥渘ew deadly threat.鈥�
Lacson, a former police chief, noted that the Lamitan incident was the 鈥渇irst known suicide bombing鈥� in the Philippines.
鈥淧roactive offense is still our best defense, prompted by good intelligence,鈥� he wrote on Twitter. /je