Wesmincom spox admits security lapses, asks for public’s cooperation

The spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on Tuesday admitted that there were lapses in the security measures imposed in Sulu, where explosive devices killed 21 people in a cathedral on Sunday.

“Sa atin kapag may ganyang kaganapan, pangyayari o mga insidente, talagang agad-agad po naming in-aadmit na meron yang kapabayaan,” Wesmincom spokesperson Colonel Gerry Besana said in an interview on Balitanghali.

His admission came on the heels of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año's assessment that there had been shortcomings in the security measures in the province, as well as over the cathedral, which had been under threat for some time. 

AFP spokesperson Colonel Noel Detoyato said that this was not the time to blame security forces, and that as in all cases of terrorism, perpetrators always find "small holes" to conduct atrocities.

“The incident in Jolo is not an exception where, notwithstanding stepped-up security posture, and the many instances where we foiled terrorist attempts, this still happened,” Detoyato told GMA News Online.

However, Besana said this meant that there were really lapses on their part.

“Kahit gaano katindi yung ginawa nating security measures sa isang area, kapag may nakalusot po na isang insidente, ibig sabihin nagkakaroon talaga ng lapse,” he said.

Help from public

Due to the fact that the security forces are limited to monitoring all the corners of the concerned areas, Besana asked the public to coordinate with authorities to help prevent such attacks.

“Hindi po lahat nakikita ng ating military at pulis 'yung nangyayari sa palagid nila. So kung may napapansin man silang kakaiba, dapat po  ipinagbibigay alam agad sa kinauukulan,” Besana said.

He also confirmed that the investigation currently has three persons of interest, who were seen in CCTV footage seemingly detonating a bomb with a cellphone.

“Kung makikita natin 'yung footage na CCTV sa high definition, eksakto po yung pagpindot niya sa cellphone na yan,  tsaka ho sumabog,” he said.

Besana said the body language and movements of the three individuals shown in the footage were odd.

“Mapapansin din karamihan po ng tao ay papunta doon para magresponde  sa simbahan, doon sa naganap na pagsabog. Samantalang itong tatlong ito ay talagang, kung magiging mapanuri ang ating kababayan, kakaiba yung kanilang galaw,” Besana said.

He also confirmed that the investigation is leaning towards the Abu Sayyaf’s Ajang-Ajang group as the perpetrators behind the attack.

According to Besana, the Ajang-Ajang group is notorious in Jolo.

“Notorious yan sa pangkikidnap, sa pang-eextort, sa pagpapasabog, pagpatay at pamamaril, at hindi lamang sa mga sundalo gayundin sa mga sibilyan diyan sa area,” Besana said. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News