Philippine soldiers escort a hearse during the funeral of one of the 21 victims killed in the Jan 27 cathedral bombing in Jolo in Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao. In nearby Sulu province, soldiers encountered about 100 Abu Sayyaf members and a firefight was taking place. Members of the Abu Sayyaf acted as a guide in the bombings, Ano told reporters in the central province of Leyte. The Indonesian couple wanted to set an example among Filipino militants, Ano told CNN Philippines, adding that there were still some foreign terrorists in the country. The Philippine military this week launched an airstrike against a splinter group from the Abu Sayyaf that it believed led the attack.

Source: Bangkok Post February 02, 2019 09:22 UTC