Army official on Jolo blasts: Hindi nagkulang ang security forces

An official of the 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army on Sunday said security forces did not have any shortcoming in responding to intelligence reports related to the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu last week.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News, 11th Infantry Division’s General Staff for Civil Military Operations spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Mateo noted that the security in Sulu is actually strict.

“Ang terrorist kasi ang hirap i-predict, especially 'yung mga suicide bombers. Pero hindi nagkulang ang security forces dito sa Sulu with the help of the local government units,” Mateo said.

“Nakita naman natin na nagbuwis din ng buhay ‘yung ating mga sundalo sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin na panatilihin ang peace and order dito sa Sulu,” he added.

Mateo made the statement when asked about the possible lapses in security considering that authorities already received intelligence reports on the threats in Jolo before the attack.

“Actually, napakaigting ng seguridad na ipinatupad sa Jolo matapos na may intelligence report na meron dalawang bombers na mag-perpetrate ng bombing dito sa munisipyo ng Jolo,” Mateo said.

“'Yung natanggap natin 'yung balitang 'yan ay sinaturate na natin ng forces ‘yung Jolo. Not just Jolo. Pati na rin 'yung mga karatig na munisipyo,” he added.

The twin bomb attacks on August 24 left 15 people dead and 74 others wounded.

Last week, Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said security forces have been working on tracking the suicide bombers before the attack.

"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.

Four soldiers of the intel operatives were killed by nine police officers while they were conducting intelligence operations to track the suicide bombers on June 29.

Vinluan raised the possibility that the nine police officers may have conspired with the two suicide bombers citing their blood ties.

"Posible 'yun, your honor, dahil halos magkakamanag-anak naman sa Sulu,” Vinluan said during the Commission on Appointments' deliberation on his nomination.

“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," he added. —KG, GMA News