The United States has condemned the terrorist attack that killed at least four persons attending Sunday mass at the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium in Marawi City.
In a statement on Monday, Dec. 4, Washington said it is mourning the death of those who were killed in the attack and commiserated with those who were injured which the Philippine government reported to be at 50.
“The United States is in close contact with our Philippine partners and stands with the people of the Philippines in rejecting this act of violence,” the country’s long-standing military ally said.
On Sunday, Dec. 3, a bombing believed to be perpetrated by local terrorists occured at Dimaporo Gymnasium in Marawi State University during the first Sunday of Advent at around 7:14 a.m., leaving four people dead and scores of others wounded.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) believed the attack was a retaliation by terrorist and extremist groups in the country after the military launched successive offensives against the Islamic State (IS)-linked Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group, which led to the neutralization of its ranking leaders.
Other nations, including Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, as well as the European Union, through their envoys in Manila, also condemned the attack.
"I reiterate Japan's commitment to support the peace process to achieve sustainable peace and stability in Mindanao," Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said.