Sen. Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa urged security forces today to isolate radicalized terrorists in Mindanao before they can come over to Metro Manila for suicide missions.
‘’Sa security forces sana maisolate na ang terrorist sa South doon pa lang di na makarating sa Metro Manila,’’ Dela Rosa said during a DWIZ radio interview. (I hope security forces would be able to isolate these terrorists in the southern Philippines and prevent them from arriving in Metro Manila)
Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, cited intelligence reports that children of Abu Sayyaf Group members killed in encounters with government operatives are kept by ASG and then radicalized.
‘’Meron nang bombing involving Filipino suicide bombers so dumadami na sila at posibleng makarating sa Metro Manila,’’ he pointed out. (There are many bombings involving Filipino suicide bombers and their numbers are increasing. It is possible that they have arrived in Metro Manila)
Last Aug. 24, twin bombings allegedly carried out by two female suicide bombers linked to the notorious Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) rocked Jolo, Sulu killing 15 persons, including some soldiers.
There are reports that the suicide bombers were widows of ASG members.
Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said Metro Manila had experienced terror attacks at the ‘’LRT (Light Rail Transit), bus, and mall.’’
The police officers involved in the fatal shooting of four Army intelligence officers in Jolo may have had connections with the two suicide bombers being tailed by the military men in their operation.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command chief Major Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. raised this possibility as a motive behind the shooting of the four military officers who were in the midst of an anti-terrorism operation when they were gunned down last June 29.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon asked Vinluan during a confirmation hearing of the national defense committee of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) last week regarding possible motives behind the shooting of the four Army men.
The military officers who were killed were dispatched by the Joint Intelligence Task Group and the Task Force Sulu after technical intelligence detected the possible location of two female suicide bombers and the maker of their suicide vests.
Drilon asked Vinluan whether there is truth to the “conspiracy” that the policemen knew the two suicide bombers being hunted down by the Army officers.
Vinluan said it was a ‘’possibility.’’
“Posible ‘yun. Halos magkakamag-anak naman sa Sulu. May mga ASG na kamag-anak ng pulis and then may MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) naman na kamag-anak yung pulis, dahil maliit lang naman yung Sulu,” he told the CA members. (That is possible. Almost all in Sulu are relatives. There are ASG members who have relatives in the PNP. And then MNLF members have relatives in the PNP because Sulu is a small place)