Intel says terrorists targeting Zamboanga, Jolo schools – Sotto

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said on Sunday that he received "intelligence reports" that  terrorists had planned to attack schools in Zamboanga and Jolo, but the "intensified" presence of security forces had thwarted the planned attacks.

"Hindi ba nakarating sa inyo na tinira na yung Zamboanga at ang... Jolo? Nag-umpisa na eh," Sotto told Super Radyo dzBB. "I don’t know if I’m authorized to tell you, pero ang na-discover 'dun sa mga nakuha na dokumento, mga eskwelahan ang titirahin sa Zamboanga at saka sa Jolo eh. Habang nandodoon ang mga estudyante."

The senator added that Philippine security and intelligence services had managed to keep information on the planned attacks and their response to it from news organizations.

"Syempre, meron din namang mga area na hindi naman kayo present eh, ang media eh. At meron din namang hindi available na impormasyon sa inyo. At meron ding hindi available sa amin, totally available," Sotto explained.

"Sa presidente, available lahat 'yon," he added.

Sotto also emphasized that he did not violate any national security protocols by making these revelations, as his information did not come from a briefing given by intelligence services during an executive session.

“Wala ako doon sa executive session kaya hindi ako… nakuha ko lang ‘yung brief after eh... ‘Yung intel ko nakuha ko sa iba, sa iba galing," Sotto clarified. "Kaya hindi nila ako pwedeng sabihing kinontra ko ‘yung executive session."

"'Bat ako nagsasalita sa inyo," he added. "Wala ako nun eh, hindi ko narinig ‘yun doon. ‘Yung intel ko, galing sa labas."

Extension

Sotto's revelations came a day after Congress approved the extension of martial rule in Mindanao to the end of the year.

He explained that it was Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año himself who suggested that extending martial law was the best way to defeat terrorist groups in Mindanao.

"So they were playing safe, and then it was General Año who, kahapon inamin niya, na siya ang nagsabi... hindi pwede, mas mabuting i-safe natin at least before December 31,” the senator said.

Sotto also hinted that martial rule in Mindanao could be lifted even before December 31. "Sa nakikita ko, at sa nakikita ko rin na mga dumarating na kagamitan ng ating Armed Forces eh, tingin ko, bago mag-Pasko, lifted yan. Li-lift yan bago mag-Christmas.”

The senator argued that the Congress's ability to lift the president's martial-law declaration was what differentiated Duterte's martial law from that of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Sa martial law ngayon, 'pag sa tingin ng Kongreso na may mga abuses na gagawin ang militar, pwedeng i-revoke na, pwedeng alisin," Sotto said. “Hindi pwedeng tumanggi ang Pangulo 'pag binawi namin." — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News