AFP chief: No ISIS, Maute hand seen so far in Quiapo blasts

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año on Monday said the military has not seen the link of the Islamic State (ISIS) or the local Maute Group to the twin explosions in Quiapo, Manila this past weekend.

Año led military officials including Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana in a briefing on the national security situation before the House committee on National Defense and Security.

“So far we have not seen any connection between the ISIS or the Maute because the target [at the said bombing] was an imam,” the military chief told lawmakers, when asked about the possibility of links between the groups and the recent explosion, where two people were killed.

Año, however, deferred the confirmation of this information to the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is leading the investigation.

“We are waiting for the investigation of the PNP. There are some personalities identified with the Maute of the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), but that doesn’t conclude that an ISIS cell is existing,” he said.

Año also noted that the official determination of ISIS presence in the Philippines, or in Metro Manila, is made by the National Security Council and the Anti-Terrorism Council.

“It has to go through a process,” he said. “All we have to do, sir, is submit our reports. As far as the AFP is concerned, we’re not authorized to say, we cannot make the official assessment.”

The ISIS was earlier reported to claim responsibility over a separate explosion, also in Quiapo, Manila, two weeks ago, where 14 people were injured.

Metro Manila police chief Dir. Oscar Albayalde said the ISIS was perhaps “just grabbing the opportunity to promote their cause,” reiterating that the incident was because of a local gang war. —JST, GMA News