Palace ‘concerned’ over Sulu suicide bombing

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pays his last respects to one of the victims who died during the twin bombings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu as he visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on January 28, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday expressed concern over the June 28 suicide bombing attack in Sulu, which killed eight people and injured 22 others.

“It’s a cause for concern given this is the first time that there is a Filipino suicide bomber,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“It goes against the grain of the character of Filipinos. Yung mag suicide ka para sa terrorism (Suicide for terrorism),” he added.

Panelo called on the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities.

“Mag-ingat ano man ang nakikita nilang hindi normal, ipaalam nila sa mga kaukulang awtoridad lalo na yung mga nakikita nilang galaw na mapanganib para sa kanilang kalagayan (Be cautious when they something unusual and report to authorities, especially if there are suspicious activities that may put their lives at risk), Panelo said.

Panelo said that the suicide bombing incident should prompt the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other security forces to enhance technology in surveillance and intelligence work.

Asked if the country’s first suicide bombing incident would push President Rodrigo Duterte to call for a fourth extension of martial law in Mindanao, Panelo said it would be up to the chief executive.

“That’s the call of the President,” Panelo said.

Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the ISIS-inspired Maute Group in Marawi City and has been extended thrice until December 2019.

On Wednesday, police and military officials confirmed that one of the two suicide bombers who perpetrated the attack at the tactical command post of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) in Indanan, Sulu is a Filipino.

This is the third suicide attack in a span of one year — the first by a Moroccan national in Lamitan, Basilan in July 2018 and the second by Indonesians in Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo last January.