National Police investigators examine the site at the South Seas Mall following an explosion on New Year鈥檚 Eve in Cotabato city, southern Philippines Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana says the bomb went off Monday near the entrance of the mall as people made last-minute preparations ahead of New Year celebrations killing at least two people and wounding 21 others. (AP Photo/Rainier Canoso)
MANILA, Philippines鈥揟he Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemned on Thursday聽the deadly bomb attack at a mall in Cotabato City on Dec. 30.
鈥淭he Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the bombing at Cotabato City,鈥� CHR Spokesperson Jaqueline de Guia said in a statement.
The CHR urged the security forces in the country to 鈥渁ct with urgency鈥� in pursuing the perpetrators and make them accountable, especially that martial law is still in effect in Mindanao.
CHR also urged the public to unrelentingly work for just and lasting peace in the Mindanao region and the whole country.
鈥淲e must continue to denounce acts meant nothing but sow fear, as we urge everyone to continuously work for just and lasting peace in the region and for the entire country,鈥� De Guia said.
On Dec. 30, an explosion occurred in front of South Seas Mall in Cotabato City, leaving two persons dead and at least 34 others injured.
Malaca帽ang earlier vowed to 鈥済et to the bottom鈥� of the incident at the 鈥渟oonest possible time.鈥�
鈥淲e empathize with the families, relatives and friends of those who suffered from this unhappy occurrence,鈥� Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an earlier statement.
READ: Palace vows to 鈥榞et to the bottom鈥� of Cotabato City mall blast
The Philippine National Police, for its part, said they are looking into the possibility that local terrorist groups inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are involved in the bombing.
READ: ISIS-inspired groups eyed in Cotabato blast 鈥� PNP
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