Police Identify Bombing Suspect At Philippine University, Military Holds Massive Pursuit

Philippine authorities at the site of the explosion. (Source: Facebook/Provincial Government of Lanao Del Sur)

JAKARTA - The Philippine military is pursuing the perpetrators of the university bombing in the Philippines during a Catholic Mass, when local police managed to identify two suspected suspects, after the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A senior Philippine military official said he would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Currently, there is a large-scale operation underway to hunt down terrorist groups or suspected perpetrators of the bombing," William Gonzales, head of West Mindanao Command, told Reuters on November 4.

Meanwhile, the local police said they had pocketed their suspected names, one of which was related to local militants.

"(We have interested people), but the investigation is still ongoing. In order not to precede the investigation, we will not divulge the names," regional police chief Allan Nobleza told GMA News.

As previously reported, a bomb exploded at the Mindanao State University game located in Marawi, while the service was taking place there on Sunday.

"I strongly condemn the unreasonable and most heinous acts committed by foreign terrorists," said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., quoted from SCMP.

"Ekstremists who commit violence against innocent people will always be considered as enemies for our society," he said.

Security forces said four people were killed and dozens injured in the explosion.

Separately, the Islamic State group in its post on Telegram claimed responsibility for the attack.

A spokesman for the Philippine military, Colonelwaste, said the military was trying to validate ISIS' claim of responsibility.

Of the 54 people injured in the bombing, only seven are still being treated in hospital, gassiers added.