AFP maintains suspects behind Jolo cathedral bombing possibly Indonesians

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday contended that the suspects behind the bombing of a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, were possibly Indonesian citizens, even as the Indonesian Embassy seeks clarification regarding the claim.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, AFP public affairs chief Noel Detoyato said that aside from their intel, he also personally recovered passports of foreigners during their operations while he was still a lieutenant.

"Tsaka mga former intel natin, mga former reports natin. Kasi nu'ng tinyente ako, palagi kami nakaka-overrun ng mga kampo noon. May mga nakikita talaga kami na hindi taga-dito sa atin. At may nakuha pa nga ako noon, ako, personal ko ha, naka-recover ako ng mga pasaporte na galing sa ibang bansa," Detoyato said.

"So noon noon pa, may mga kone-koneksyon itong, ang global terrorists, ito'y connected sa isa't isa," he added.

Detoyato maintained that the dissemination of information about the nationality of the suspects was to forewarn the public that foreign terrorists are indeed entering the country.

"Ito naman kasi, we are concerned about the national security saka security mismo ng ating mga kababayan doon. Nailabas 'yung mga information na 'yun para ma-forewarn na may mga dayuhan talaga na involved doon," he added.

Detoyato, who is from Mindanao himself, said they identify Indonesians coming over to the country as "Maruri."

"Mahahalata mo naman dahil tayo, taga-Mindanao tayo eh kaya alam natin kung... Ang tawag nga namin doon 'Maruri.' Iba kasi ang salita nila... Pagka ikaw ay galing doon sa labas ng Pilipinas, 'Maruri' ang tawag sa 'yo. Iba kasi ang salita, Bahasa ang salita nila," he said.

According to the Indonesian-language news site BeritaSatu, Ambassador Sinyo Harry Sarundajang is aiming to send a "verbal note" to Philippine Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to ask for clarification and at the same time to express objections to the lack of notification of alleged involvement of Indonesian citizens in the Jolo incident.

Twenty-three people were killed while more than 100 were injured when a bomb went off inside a packed Our Lady of Mount Carmel cathedral on the morning of January 27. The blast was followed by another one outside the church minutes later.

Citing sources, Año, a former military chief of staff, said the incident was a case of suicide bombing involving an Indonesian couple, although he admitted on February 5 that identifying them may "take time." —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News