Samples of remains of woman suicide bomber in Indanan blast to undergo DNA testing

Samples taken from the remains of the alleged female suicide bomber involved in the Indanan, Sulu explosion on Sunday will undergo DNA testing, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said on Monday.

"Nakuha na rin natin ang paa at ang tsinelas. Pang-babae talaga... Caucasian-looking. Makikita 'yan sa DNA testing," Sobejana said in a phone interview.

Sobejana also maintained that the alleged suicide bomber was female and was the lone fatality in the incident.

"Ngayon definite na tayo, confirmed na babae. Kaya nagkakaroon ng debate kung lalaki or babae kasi 'yung kamay may balahibo," he said.

Philippine National Police spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said it is possible that the suicide bomber was disguised as a woman. He said a probe is ongoing to determine the real identity of the suspect.

"Lumalabas na parang babae pero ang bahagi naman ng mga kamay ay panlalaki. So ang isang posibilidad dito ay nagpapanggap lamang," he said.

"Patuloy ang ginagawang scene of the crime operations ng ating crime laboratory upang matukoy ang pagkakakilanlan ng suspect doon sa pinakahuling pambobomba sa Indanan, Sulu," Banac added.

Joint Task Force Sulu spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Monfort earlier said the woman, who appeared to be pregnant because of her large belly, tried to enter the entrance gate of KM3 Detachment of the 35th Infantry Battalion on Sunday afternoon.

Monfort said the guard took a defensive position while instructing the woman not to enter. The other soldiers took a defensive position, after which the woman blew herself up.

According to the military's statement, a manual fuse igniter believed to be from the suicide bomber was recovered at the site. —KG, GMA News