Twenty people have been killed and dozens injured as were two bombs were detonated at a Roman Catholic cathedral in southern Philippines.
According to Officials, the first blast happened as Sunday Mass was being celebrated at the church on Jolo island, where Islamist militants are active.
As soldiers responded, a second device was detonated in the car park.
The attack comes days after a majority-Muslim area in the region voted for greater autonomy in a referendum.
No group has so far said it was behind the attack.
Jolo has long been a base for militants including those of the Abu Sayyaf group.
Some of the wounded were evacuated by air to the nearby city of Zamboanga.
Calling the attack a dastardly act, Defence Secretary Mr. Delfin Lorenzana, urged the local population to work with the authorities to “deny terrorism any victory.
In last week’s referendum, voters approved the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in majority-Muslim areas of southern Philippines.
But voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected it. The referendum was the result of a peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The authorities have previously expressed hopes that the vote could be a political solution to try to end decades of fighting between Islamist separatists and the Philippine army in the predominantly
Catholic country.
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