Interfaith group condemns Pikit Church bombing

MANILA — A large alliance of Christian churches on has condemned the grenade attack on a Protestant church in Southern Philippines that killed at least two people and hurt three others.The National Council of Churches in the Philippines said it mourns with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) at the suffering” inflicted by the attack on its church in Pikit, North Cotabato.Reports said that two motorcycle riding men fired a M203 grenade into the UCCP church while the congregation was gathered in prayer. While motives behind this attack are still unclear, it is yet another suffering inflicted on the UCCP which has already experienced extrajudicial killing, disappearance and illegal detention of many of its members and pastors over the recent years,” said NCCP General Secretary Fr. Rex Reyes. Our prayers at this time are with those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, we are praying for those who have been injured, for the congregation at Pikit, and the leadership of the UCCP,” he said.The NCCP criticized those behind the heinous attack” against its member church which is known for its strong campaign against human rights abuses.He said the country had enough of the culture of impunity where the innocent suffer and the guilty go free.” We call on the responsible authorities to conduct a proper and thorough investigation of this atrocity so that those behind it will be brought before the courts and made to give account for this brutal crime,” he said. (CBCPNews)