The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized its manpower and resources in Sulu and western part of Mindanao to assist the military in hunting down those involved in the Jolo twin bombings that left 14 people dead and more than 75 others injured on Monday.
(PNP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said he had already ordered the police commanders of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) to intensify the conduct of checkpoints, police visibility patrols, and focused intelligence and law enforcement operations against the suspects.
"We join the entire Filipino nation in strong condemnation of this senseless act of terror for whatever motive its perpetrators may have even during this time of pandemic,” said Gamboa.
"While we express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased and sympathy to the wounded, we assure them of our keen resolve and commitment to bring to justice those responsible for this vicious attack,” he added.
The twin bombings that occurred one hour apart and 100 meters apart killed seven soldiers, six civilians, and a member of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF). It also inflicted injuries on six policemen, 18 soldiers and 48 civilians.
Gamboa identified the slain SAF trooper as Police Senior Master Sgt. Joe Michael A Langbi.
SAF troopers have been present in Sulu to help the military hunt down the local and foreign terror groups operating in the province, including the foreign terrorists who were reportedly training locals to engage in suicide bombing.
The 15th fatality in the blast is believed to be a female foreign suicide bomber.
Botched
The operation to clamp down on terrorists in Sulu hit a snag last month after policemen killed four military intelligence officers who were hot on the trail of two female foreign terrorists in Jolo.
The soldiers were reportedly tailing the foreign terrorists reportedly being coddled by members of the Abu Sayyaf Group when they were stopped at the checkpoints. They died near the Jolo Police Station after the local policemen fired at them.
Military commanders said the incident spoiled their efforts to contain the movement and clip the operational capability of the terrorists in Sulu who were responsible for the suicide bombing inside the Jolo Cathedral last month and the twin bombings in a military camp in Indanan town.
Susukan Connection
On August 13, police served the arrest warrant against Abduljihad ‘Idang’ Susukan at the house of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari in Davao City.
Susukan has been reportedly under the care of Misuari since April this year and even accompanied the wanted ASG leader in Davao City to seek medical treatment. They reportedly landed in Davao City using a private plane.
Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, said the Jolo twin bombings were also connected to the arrest of Susukan since the arrested ASG leader is one of the important leaders of the ASG based in Sulu.
Following the arrest of Susukan, security officials said they were bracing for the retaliatory attacks by the ASG.