Revenge for death of ISIS emir Hatib Sawadjaan seen as motive in Jolo bombing

Revenge for the death of ISIS emir Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan was one of the angles being looked into by the military in the deadly blasts in Jolo, Sulu, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief said on Wednesday.

Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. told GMA News Online that it is 90% possible that Hatib, the ISIS emir in the Philippines, was already dead after an encounter in Sulu province last July 6.

However, Vinluan said Hatib's body has yet to be found.

"Mga 90% siguro na killed siya pero kailangan pa rin naming i-validate. Ipahanap namin 'yung body niya pero halos lahat ng information na dumadating sa amin na namatay siya noong last July encounter," Vinluan said in a phone interview.

Hatib is the uncle of Mundi Sawadjaan, whom Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana tagged as the brain of suicide bombings in Sulu province.

According to Vinluan, it is also possible that members of the Abu Sayyaf Group attacked to seek attention from the ISIS group so that they could get funds from the international terror group.

"May ibang factors pa kasi siyempre namroblema sila sa funds ngayon, hindi sila sinusuportahan and then wala namang kidnapping sa grupo nila and then siyempre kailangan nila ng isang activity, isang terrorist act para majustify nila 'yung pagrequest nila ng pondo sa ISIS. Kung wala kang magawa na ano, hindi ka mapondohan..." he said.

The explosions in Barangay Walled City last Monday claimed the lives of 15 individuals, including civilians. More than 70 others were wounded in the incident caused by two female suicide bombers.

Earlier, Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brigadier General William Gonzales identified the two suicide bombers as Nanah, allegedly the wife of Filipino suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, while the other was identified as Inda Nhay, believed to be the wife of Abu Talha, the Abu Sayyaf's liaison to ISIS who was killed during a firefight with troops.

Vinluan said based on accounts of witnesses, the two suicide bombers are Tausugs. He, however, said the military would still wait for the results of the lab tests to confirm their nationalities.

"Confirm na (Filipinos) based doon sa mga accounts ng witnesses pero scientifically, 'yung based sa SOCO, hinihintay pa rin natin..." Vinluan said.

Vinluan said the military had neutralized other suicide bombers before but they are not discounting the possibility that there are others planning to attack and bring hostilities in the province.

"Hindi natin dini-discount 'yung possibility na magprepare sila habang buhay si Mundi. 'Yun 'yung gusto naming hanapin at patayin," Vinluan said.—AOL, GMA News