WestMinCom chief: Blood ties of cops involved in Jolo shooting to 2 suicide bombers possible

Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said Monday there is a possibility that the nine police officers may have conspired with the two suicide bombers being tracked by the four soldiers who got killed in Jolo, Sulu last June 29.

During the Commission on Appointments' deliberation on Vinluan's nomination, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked if the Armed Forces of the Philippines thinks the cops, who killed the military men carrying out an intelligence operation to thwart a bombing attack, connived with the two suicide bombers.

"Posible 'yun, your honor dahil halos magkakamanag-anak naman sa Sulu. May mga ASG (Abu Sayyaf)  na may kamag-anak na pulis, and then may MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) naman na may kamag-anak na pulis, maliit lang naman ang Sulu," Vinluan said.

Pressed further who among the police officers were related to the alleged bombers, Vinluan said: "Hindi ko po kayo masagot nang definite dahil ongoing pa ang investigation namin."

"Rido" or family feud, and illegal drugs were also among the possible motives for the fatal shooting, he added.

Vinluan, however, dismissed claims that Corporal Abdal Asula, one of the four soldiers killed, was involved in illegal drugs.

"Hindi involved, your honor. 'Yung sundalo na iyon, siya 'yung matino at marami siya nai-contribute sa security, hindi lang sa Jolo part, hanggang sa Basilan," he said.

Vinluan stressed that the four slain military men were searching for two suicide bombers when the shooting incident happened in Barangay Walled City almost two months ago.

"Based on the reports of the intel operatives, two female suicide bombers will bomb a place somewhere in Jolo, so I asked the intel operatives if they can pinpoint the location of the two female suicide bombers," he said.

He added that he also divulged the information of a "pending suicide bombing" to the police, barangay captains, and the mayor to inform them of the threat.

Just before the CA plenary session ended, news broke out that an explosion occurred in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, killing at least nine people, including five soldiers and four civilians.

Senator Francis Tolentino, citing initial information from Vinluan, said two soldiers were killed by the blast.

"Dalawang sundalo kaagad natin ang nasawi. Namamalengke sila, at market day ngayon ng tropa sa Jolo," he said. — RSJ, GMA News