Jolo bombing an attempt to ignite a ‘religious war’ – Año

The bombing of a Jolo cathedral in which 22 people were killed and over a hundred others were injured may have been an attempt to start a "religious war" in the Philippines, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Saturday.

Año, who had earlier said that intelligence reports suggested Indonesian suicide bombers, guided by the Abu Sayyaf group, were behind the attack, clarified that they were still validating the information.

"Sabi nga, may dalawang pares ng paa na na-recover doon na walang nagki-claim, walang nag-a-identify, at more or less ito ay mga suicide bombers. And then mayroon tayong mga intelligence information galing doon sa loob na Indonesian couple ito," Año explained.

"But then, siyempre bago natin ipa-finalize iyan, kailangan supported properly lalo na ng forensic at ng DNA. So mayroon tayong ugnayan sa Indonesian government – tutulong sila, at least mabubuo natin kung talagang ma-identify natin ito na talagang Indonesian itong bomber na nagpaputok dito sa cathedral."

Año went on to explain how the they came up with the theory that the bombers were foreign nationals from Indonesia.

"May mga sources naman tayo sa loob ng organisasyon nila. Tapos mayroon din tayong mga nai-interview na mga hostages na kanilang hawak, na ngayon ay na-release na, plus iyong nangyari dito sa Jolo at ongoing investigation, so nag confirm ito, nagduktong-duktong ito," he elaborated. 

Furthermore, Año claimed that last Sunday's attack on the cathedral was likely carried out these foreign nationals with the intent to stir up conflict between Muslims and Christians. 

"Itong plano talaga nila na pagpapasabog para gayahin sila ng Pilipino. Sa atin kasi, alam mo naman, wala sa ating tradisyon iyong mga suicide bombing na iyan," he said.

"So parang gustong magpakita ng example at gusto nilang itaas sa religious war, kaya ang pinipili nila ay iyong mga simbahan, cathedral para pag-awayin iyong Kristiyano at saka Muslim." — Margaret Clair Layug/DVM, GMA News