2 suicide bombers behind Jolo blasts
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Two female suicide bombers carried out the daring attacks in Jolo, Sulu that left dozens of casualties, mostly civilians, military officials said.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said one of the bombers was an Indonesian, the widow of Abu Sayyaf suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, who blew himself up outside a military base and killed eight people in Sulu’s Indanan town last year.
The other suicide bomber was the wife of an Abu Sayyaf explosives expert Talha Jumsa, who was also killed in a clash with soldiers in Patikul town, also in Sulu.
Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11th Infantry Division, said the investigation carried out by the explosives and ordnance division indicated that the bomber in the first attack was an expert in explosives.
“I just came from the site of incident and we obtained a CCTV footage on the first explosion where we saw that it is possible that it was caused by a suicide bomber too,” Gonzales told reporters.
Sobejana said soldiers were tailing two female suicide bombers, one of whom was the widow of Lasuca.
Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, on Tuesday said a parked motorcycle rigged with explosives was detonated near two military trucks. The second suicide bomber detonated her explosives while soldiers and policemen were rushing to the scene to aid the victims.
Vinluan said the Joint Task Force Sulu “will continue to sustain the security efforts for peace and stability in the province.”
“Ground troops continue to establish the circumstances and identify the perpetrators behind this inhumane attack,” he said.
The 11th Infantry Division in Sulu said seven soldiers and one policeman were killed and 24 soldiers and six policemen were wounded in the bombings. It said six civilians also died and 48 others were injured in the attacks.
With the brazen attacks, Sobejana said Sulu province should be placed under martial law.
He also suggested that a state of emergency be declared in Sulu to instill discipline among local residents and help authorities track down terrorists in the province.
“It has to be controlled, otherwise, it will be repetitive and victimize the locals. Our intention [for martial law] would be to control everything, especially the movements of the terror groups,” Sobejana explained.
Condemned
The United States, European Union delegation in the Philippines and China on Tuesday condemned the two bombings.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim turned to Twitter to offer his “sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of yesterday’s bombings in Jolo.”
“We join the Philippine government in condemning these attacks and will continue to support our Filipino partners to strengthen national security,” Kim said.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the bombings which has caused heavy casualties.
“We join the Philippine government in condemning the attacks, and express sincere condolences to the injured and the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. At this moment of grief, our hearts are with the Philippine government and people,” the embassy said in a text message.
The EU in the Philippines tweeted, “Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s bombings in Jolo. We wish all those injured quick recovery.”
“We stand with the Philippine authorities in condemning these attacks. We all stand united against the scourge of terrorism,” the EU mission said.
US Assistant Secretary David Stilwell also offered his deepest condolences on those affected by the Jojo bombings in Jolo. “We condemn this senseless attack and stand by the people of the Philippines.”
Sulu Representatives Samier Tan and Shernee Tambut also condemned the bombings and called on authorities to get those behind the attacks.
“I call on all concerned agencies to exercise the full force of the law to drag those responsible to the bars of justice and be meted out with punishment commensurate to the terror they wreaked,” Tan said.
Tambut agreed.
“Such dastardly acts have no place in a civilized society and so I urge the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct a thorough investigation, and file appropriate charges against the perpetrators of this cowardly act,” she said.
Security was tightened in Sulu a day after the blasts.
Gov. Sakur Tan convened a Crisis Management Committee that was attended by Gonzales and Col. Michael Bayawan, the provincial police chief; Jolo Mayor Kerkhar Tan and Dr. Fahra Omar, the provincial health officer; and other stakeholders to discuss security measures.
Tan said the provincial government would shoulder the hospital bills of all the blast victims and provide them with financial assistance.
Justice to victims
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also condemned the bombings and called on authorities to give justice to the victims.
“Habang abala ang gobyerno sa pagresponde sa krisis dulot ng Covid-19, napili pa talaga ng mga teroristang ito na ngayon maghasik ng gulo (While the government is busy addressing the pandemic, these terrorists sow chaos),” he said in a speech at the Senate.
Go revealed that he personally witnessed bombings when he was still in Davao City
“Base sa personal kong karanasan, alam ko kung gaano kalalim ang sakit na dulot ng mawalan ka ng mahal sa buhay, at maging paghina ng negosyo sa isang lugar dahil sa mga karahasan na ito (I know the pain of losing a loved one, and I know that such acts adversely affects business operations),” he said.
“I reiterate my call on all agencies of government to ensure that those responsible for these acts of terrorism are held accountable for their actions. Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang mga inosenteng buhay na nawala dahil sa walang saysay na terorismo (Let’s give justice to the victims of terrorism),” the senator said. “ We have already passed the Anti-Terrorism Law, and I urge the government to properly enforce the law within its bounds against those who break it and stop terrorism at its roots.”
WITH BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO AND DEMPSEY REYES
Source: TheManila Times
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