Suicide bombing angle in Jolo blast ‘questionable’: DND chief

The DND chief admitted that he was initially poised to believe that the attack was done by suicide bombers. (File Photo: Delfin Lorenzana/Facebook)

MANILA — The theory that suicide bombers are behind Sunday’s bloody twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu remains hanging as the alleged terrorist groups that might be behind the attack are yet to claim responsibility for the incident.

“The theory of being a suicide bombing or not is (still) hanging in the air. It appears to be a suicide bombing dahil maraming (there were so many) body parts but we are still waiting for confirmation, kasi normally yung mga (because normally, the) ISIS (Islamic State), they will immediately identify the person, martyr, the cause,” Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Wednesday.

The DND chief admitted that he was initially poised to believe that the attack was done by suicide bombers.

“It appears to be a suicide bombing and I was also convinced immediately na baka (that it might be a) suicide bombing. But kapag kasi sasuicide bombing na yan (if it really is a suicide bombing), somebody will immediately claim na itong tao ito, naging martir (that this person became a martyr). Wala naman tayong nakikitang ganon (We do not see anything like that), although the ISIS, in their website claimed that the 21 Filipino crusaders died, hindi naman niya sinasabi na si taong ito, ganito martir siya (it did not say that this person became a martyr),” Lorenzana said.

As this developed, the DND chief added that they are still trying to identify a half-blown face recovered in the crime scene.

“(May) kalahati ng mukha ng tao nasa (There is this halved face which is at) SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operations) (that) you cannot identify, nobody (is claiming him yet). Wala pa eh (There is no update yet). So we’re trying to have his DNA tested para malaman natin (so we will know) how we’re going to find out. Maybe we can find out the nationality, Pilipino ba o (Is it a Filipino or) foreigner, kasi may nagsasabi na foreigner daw yung nag-suicide bombing diyan. Wala pa namang Pilipino na nag-suicide bombing eh (because there are those who say it a foreigner conducted a suicide bombing there. No Filipino has ever done a suicide bombing). So questionable pa yan (That is still questionable),” Lorenzana said. (With reports from Darwin C. Pesco, OJT, PNA)