Islamist millitants,raze down churches and destroy lives with disastrous bomb blast on Sunday, killed between 18 and 27 worshippers,in southern Philippine island after voters backed the creation of a new Muslim autonomous region.

According to reports gathered, the first blast occurred inside the Catholic church on war-torn Jolo on Sunday morning as mass was being celebrated, and was followed by a second explosion outside as troops responded, the regional military spokesman said.

However, most victims were churchgoers along with soldiers. The door, pews and glass windows of Mount Carmel Cathedral were blown off, military photos showed, with bodies strewn across the ground, according to an AFP photographer on the scene.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman condemned the incident as an “act of terrorism and murder”.

He said:
“We will pursue to the ends of the earth the ruthless perpetrators behind this dastardly crime until every killer is brought to justice and put behind bars. The law will give them no mercy,” Salva