Military suspects Abu Sayyaf group behind Basilan bombing

The driver of the van, who was among the 10 fatalities of the bombing in Basilan on Tuesday morning, may have been part of the Abu Sayyaf Group, Chino Gaston reported on Saksi.

The action of the driver was suspicious and it seemed that he does not understand Tagalog or the local dialect, the military said.

"We cannot say that this is a foreign terrorist or foreigner driver because he himself was killed in the blast. The initial personnel of AFP who had contact with this lone driver, succumb and died," said AFP spokesman Col. Edgardo Arevalo.

The driver could have been part of the group of Abu Sayyaf Commander Furji Indama and that the bombing was a way for the group to assert that they are still a force to reckon with, according to the Western Mindanao Command.

The AFP claimed that they were able to limit the damage caused by the explosion and that it could have been worse if the van made it to a crowded area.

"Naging successful tayo lalong lalo na sa pag-implement ng ating checkpoint sapagkat na-foil nga natin itong attempt na ito," said Arevalo.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said security forces should look into the matter that the bombing incident occurred while the island of Mindanao was under martial rule.

"I do not know how it happened. But what I'm saying is, illegal acts will happen whether or not we have intelligence communities. But perhaps no, one thing that the military and security establishment must look into, is their capability," he added.

Defense analyst Professor Rommel Banlaoi said the bombing incident was a suicide mission and that the perpetrator was a foreigner.

"Kung ang nag-detonate ng bomb ay 'yung bomber at nasa loob siya at naging casualty for me that's an act of suicide terrorism," Banlaoi said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said he is concerned that a similar incident may take place in crowded areas.

To which Arevalo replied, "We do not want to speculate." — BAP, GMA News