October 27, 2009, GMA News, 4:41 PM, Blast rocks Jolo church; terrorists blamed,

October 27, 2009, GMA News, 4:41 PM, Blast rocks Jolo church; terrorists blamed, 

A grenade explosion rocked the back of the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu province Tuesday morning, but no one was reported injured, a military spokesman said. 

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Ramon David Hontiveros said post-blast investigation so far revealed that the explosion, which occurred at 10:45 a.m., was caused by an M72 grenade thrown from the back of the cathedral over the rear wall.

The blast, which was blamed on "terrorists," did not damage the cathedral.

"The explosion could be a test by the terrorists to see the reaction of the AFP/PNP (Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police) in the area," Hontiveros said in a text message to reporters.

Hontiveros could not be immediately reached for follow-up as of posting time. Jolo is a known stomping ground of the Abu Sayyaf, a loosely organized band of Islamic fundamentalists with known links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Last July 7, two people were killed while 30 others were injured in an explosion near the same cathedral. - GMANews.TV