Manila (AsiaNews) – Mgr Fernando Capalla, chairman of the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said that yesterday's attacks in Davao, General Santos and Manila's Makati financial district that killed 12 people and injured more than 130 others are inhuman and wicked crimes committed by people without scruples and contrary to the teachings of God/Allah.

Mgr Capalla, who is archbishop of Davao, one of the stricken cities, urged the population to be "watchful and vigilant" and called on "the government and its law enforcement [agencies] to intensity surveillance and security in public places".

"We pray for the eternal rest of the souls of the victims" and "their surviving families," he said and exhorted the government into a more effective and immediate action against the latest wave of Islamist terrorism.

Yesterday's attacks followed several clashes between the Filipino military and separatist rebels from the Moro Islamic Front Liberation (MILF), in which some 100 people died.

Archbishop Capalla appealed to the authorities "to increase the capacity and sophistication of its intelligence and investigation networks to [catch] the terrorists".

The Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which is thought to be linked to al-Qaeda, claimed yesterday's attacks in Manila, Davao and General Santos. The last two cities are located on predominantly-Muslim Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines which Islamic separatists claim as their homeland.

Filipino investigators backed by Australian counterterrorist agents are checking whether behind Abu Sayyaf's claim there is the work of Jemaah Islamiah, a well-known Indonesian Islamic terrorist group.

Jemaah Islamiah is likely to have provided technical or logistical aid to the attackers who are however local, this according to Filipino police.

The authorities are concerned that other attacks might take place in public places like parks, bus stations and parking lots. (LF)