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How suspects planned Jolo twin blasts


Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said the Jolo attack was planned for a year before it was executed, adding that this was done so that local terrorists will get support and funding from the ISIS.

"Matagal na actually pinaplano 'yan. Taon na kaya 'yung cathedral na 'yun specifically dahil alam nilang merong threat, it is being guarded by the Philippine Army... mga almost a year already," Albayalde said.

A report by Mariz Umali on GMA News TV's Balitanghali quoted Albayalde as saying that the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG), which was formed to probe the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu, has established that perpetrators of the deadly attack started meeting for the implementation of the plan as early as January 8, 2019.

On January 8, police said a certain Muksin and Usman attempted to assemble an improvised explosive device (IED) in Barangay, Latih in Patikul; but they had decided to abandon it.

Four days later, alleged mastermind Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan met with Usman and a certain Barak at Sitio Bastiong and handed them with funds for the deadly attack.

On January 24, an unidentified couple, believed to be holed in Lampinigan Island, sailed to Jolo town through a pump boat. Investigation indicated that the couple, both Indonesians, were the suicide bombers.

When they arrived in Jolo, the couple boarded a tricycle to Caltex Tiam past 7 in the evening. At 7:30 p.m., they were supposedly met by suspects identified as Papong, Awag and Radjan in which they boarded Awag's jeepney.

When the group reached Usaw in Barangay Langhub, other suspects, Kamah, Barak, Makrim and Usman, joined them and they all went to Sitio Bastiong.

In a forested area, the group allegedly planned the bombing attack together with terrorist leader Sawadjaan.

On January 26, the couple, who were handling black trolley bags, were escorted to Barangay Latih by Usman, Barak and nine other armed men. Police said they reached Jolo at 5:10 p.m.

According to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, "it is believed that the Indonesian woman detonated the first IED inside the Jolo Cathedral at 8:28 a.m. while the man detonated the second IED at the church entrance seconds later" on January 27.

Earlier, Albayalde announced that Kamah had surrendered to the Philippine Army over the weekend and was later turned over to the police.

Kamah surrendered with four other members of the Abu Sayyaf group:

  • Albaji Kisae Gadjali (alias Awag)
  • Rajan Bakil Gadjali (alias Radjan)
  • Kaisar Bakil Gadjali (alias Isal)
  • Salit Alih (alias Papong)

Albayalde said multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder would be filed against the suspects before the provincial prosecutor of Sulu.

The twin explosions at Mount Carmel Cathedral claimed the lives of 22 individuals and hurt over 100 others. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News

 

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