AFTER TWIN BOMBINGS

Jolo back to normal but bracing for another possible attack, mayor says

The mayor of Jolo in Sulu province on Thursday said situation in the area has returned to "normal" days after two suicide bombings left over a dozen people dead, although they are anticipating another terrorist attack.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Mayor Kerkhar Tan said intelligence information has it that another terrorist attack is possible in Jolo.

"Sanay na [kami]. Bumalik na kami sa normal dito… 'Yung suspect namin meron pang isa, sabi ng mga intelligence," Tan said.

Monday's twin bombing attacks left 15 people dead and 78 others wounded. Among those killed were government security forces.

Tan urged the residents to remain vigilant and be watchful for suspicious people and activities in the area.

"Hindi lang mga militar ang kalaban, lahat kalaban ng terrorists kasi 'yung bomb nila walang pinipili," he said.

Martial law in Sulu?

On calls to impose martial law in the entire Sulu province after the attacks, Tan said it is not the solution to the terror threat.

"Hindi solusyon 'yang martial law dito kasi kahit martial law nagkaroon din kami ng twin bombing dito," Tan said, pertaining to the bomb attacks at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel cathedral in 2019 when the entire Mindanao was under martial law.

On Wednesday, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command Major General Corleto Vinluan said four Indonesian women who might carry out suicide bomb attacks in the country remain free in Mindanao.

Vinluan, who is also not in favor of putting Sulu under martial law, said these are the children of the suicide bombers behind the 2019 attacks.

Shared responsibility

In a television interview on Thursday, Vinluan said that preventing and countering terrorism in the province is a "shared responsibility."

"Actually during our meeting, presided by the governor with the attendance of municipal mayors and other stakeholders, I emphasized that with the active participation of local officials, down to barangay level including civilians, we no longer need the declaration of martial law," he said.

It was Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana who had suggested that military rule should be imposed in the province to prevent the lawless activities of terrorists. His recommendation was supported by the Philippine National Police.

Suspects identified

Brigadier General William Gonzales, the commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the suspects in the recent bombing attacks were both widows of known terrorists.

He said one of the suspects was identified as Nanah, allegedly the wife of Filipino suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, while the other was Inda Nhay, allegedly the wife of Abu Talha, the Abu Sayyaf's liaison to ISIS who was killed during a firefight with troops.

The nationalities of these female suicide bombers have yet to be determined. —KBK, GMA News