House adopts resolution condemning recent bombing at MSU

The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution vehemently condemning Sunday's bombing at the Mindanao State University gymnasium, which instantly killed four and injured nearly four dozen others.

House Resolution 1504, condemning in the "strongest possible terms" the deadly bomb attack during a Catholic mass at the Ali Dimaporo gym of the state-run MSU, was adopted late Wednesday, emphasizing the urgency to expedite the investigation and subsequent prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime.

"The House of Representatives condemns this act of violence perpetrated against innocent students and undertaken in a place of learning. I condole with the families of those who died and sympathize with those injured in the blast," said Speaker Martin Romualdez, one the authors of the resolution.

The resolution described the MSU blast as "an extremely disturbing, appalling and tragic event which occurred in a place of learning and fellowship and during Sunday service, jeopardizing the peace process the Government has initiated in Mindanao, and disrupting the peace and security of the communities in the region."

The MSU blast on 3 claimed four lives and wounded nearly 50 others, particularly students.

The Philippine National Police said the two suspects in the MSU blast are members of the terrorist group Maute, an Islamic State-inspired homegrown terrorist that stormed Marawi City in 2017, leaving homes, properties, and businesses destroyed after the five-month siege.

PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo identified the two as Kadapi Mimbesa, alias Engineer, and Arsani Membisa, alias Khatab, Hatab and Lapitos. Both are allegedly members of the Dalwah Islamiya-Maute Group linked to ISIS.

"There is an urgent need for a thorough investigation of this incident by the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and all government agencies concerned, to determine the perpetrators of these senseless and horrific killings," the resolution read.

Lawmakers said in the resolution that the acts of lawlessness, violence and terroristic activities, resulting in violent killings, especially of innocent people, destruction of property, and disruption of public order and safety should never be tolerated and have to be suppressed and eradicated in order to promote lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao.