Philippine archbishop condemns bomb blasts, calls for unity

Published: 2008-04-15

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (CNS) -- Archbishop Romulo Valles of Zamboanga has condemned recent bomb blasts in his archdiocese and urged people to unite to prevent further violence. "We should join together, stand up and try everything to stop any activities like this," Archbishop Valles told reporters April 14 at a press conference in Zamboanga. The archbishop described the April 13 blasts outside the cathedral and a nearby shop as "evil acts" of the "forces of darkness," reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. On April 13 around 4:20 a.m., a bomb exploded under a truck owned by Immaculate Conception Cathedral parish. No one was reported hurt, but another parish vehicle and staircases at the side of the two-story cathedral were damaged. The blast also peppered a wall with shrapnel, broke the leg on a saint's statue and cracked stained-glass windows.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .