MANILA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Sunday condemned "in the strongest terms" the bomb blast in the southern city of Cotabato that has killed at least four people and ordered authorities to exhaust all means to put the perpetrators behind bars.

    Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a statement that "those who seek to sow terror and chaos, destabilize the government and constitutional order will not go unpunished."

    "The Palace condemns in the strongest terms the Cotabato incident and has directed both the police and the military to exhaust all efforts to bring those responsible for this contemptible act to justice," Fajardo said.

    Meanwhile, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that security have been directed "to get into the bottom of the blast, arrest those responsible as soon as possible, and ensure the security of residents in the area."