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HEADLINES
IS hand in MSU bomb attack probe
By J.Lo
AFP has already initiated its investigation in coordination with PNP for bomb signature that would help identify terrorist group behind bombing," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said AFP in coordination with Philippine National Police (PNP) is validating claims by Middle East-based Islamic State (IS) that it was behind explosion that killed four people and injured 45 others attending mass in gymnasium of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, Lanao del Norte.
Regional police have identified two persons of interest, but did not divulge identities as investigation continues.
" AFP is validating claims made by ISIS in recent news reports as well as involvement of DI ,Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute group in this heinous act of terror," Trinidad added.
Trinidad said only seven of those reported injured remained in hospital. Classes resumed in Marawi but with tighter security.
AFP is on heightened alert and has sent more troops to the province.
Trinidad assured public military remains committed to its mandate of protecting people and state from both foreign and local threats.
"As we speak, there's an ongoing massive operation to hunt these terrorist groups or suspected perpetrators of bombing," Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, chief of the Zamboanga City-based Western Mindanao Command, told reporters after security meeting in Marawi City.
"We have persons of interest, but investigation is still ongoing. In order not to preempt investigation, we will not divulge names," Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional police chief Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza told media,adding one of the suspects was linked to local militant group.
Military spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. flew to Marawi "to make sure he has personal appreciation of what happened there at the same time give guidance to soldiers and commanders in the field on how to conduct investigation."
On insinuations that failure of intelligence may have led to the bombing, Aguilar said while AFP is doing its job, untoward incidents like latest terror attack happen.
"What we can say is this, if there is plan and they're decided, things like this happen sometimes. ..our intelligence community had not been remiss in its duty… still gathering information…too bad, maybe this time they didn't see it coming," he said.
He also revealed information that some students had received text messages warning of terror attack.
On alleged involvement of foreign terrorists, he said such information would be included in their investigation. He added that while there was hardly any proof of involvement of foreign fighters in earlier terror incidents, some may have managed to sneak in and link up with local contacts.
"I'm sure something like this terror plot would have reached intel… but it's really modus operandi of IS to claim responsibility for incidents like this," Aguilar said.
They have yet to establish if Middle East terror group really has local contacts.
He maintained last time IS militants linked up with homegrown terror group led to months-long siege of Marawi City in May 2017, where he said terror leader was killed. He was apparently referring to Isnilon Hapilon who was killed by sniper.
"So we do not know if they really have contact…but our investigation continues to determine who was really involved," military spokesman said.
Brawner suspected bombing could be retaliatory attack for operations against local extremist groups in Mindanao, particularly Dawlah Islamiyah and Maute.
"That could be one of the strong possibilities why this occurred," Brawner said. "Your security forces... are working doubly hard to make sure perpetrators of this terrorist attack will be brought to justice."
Military recently said it had killed senior operative from Abu Sayyaf, group notorious for kidnapping and piracy that has aligned itself with IS.
Abu Sayyaf's late leader Hapilon was IS's anointed "emir" in Southeast Asia and mastermind of 2017 occupation of Marawi, which led to deaths of more than 1,000 people during five-month military campaign to retake Islamic city.
"We recommended to our chief of staff to harden our operation activities here, because as I have said we have to address this as soon as possible. .. first and foremost aim here is to get perpetrators, dismantle and crush local terrorist group and prevent these terrorists from resurging in this place," Westmincom's Gonzales told reporters.
Two more companies from military and police units were deployed within sprawling MSU campus.
"We augmented company of military infantry just to secure the area so that we can say it is really clear and those who were left are secured," he said.
Meanwhile, PNP has placed its units in Metro Manila on high alert. "Safety and well-being of community is our top priority," PNP said in a statement.
Police regional units in Mindanao are on "full alert status."
PNP has to maintain state of readiness to ensure swift response to security threats.
"In our commitment to proactive crime prevention, we are intensifying efforts through deployment of patrols and checkpoints in strategic locations," PNP said, adding increased police presence around metropolis "serves as deterrent and reinforces security measures."
"We solemnly assure public justice will prevail for victims and those accountable will face consequences of their actions," PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. said.
At press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said there is no indication suicide bomber was involved in the attack.
"There is no indication that it was suicide bombing… I spoke with the provincial director because victims are Christians, mass was ongoing when it happened," she said.
Victims one male and three females, were all Christians, Fajardo said.
She added police are examining closed-circuit television footage in the area to determine vehicles used by two persons of interest. Fragments of 60mm mortar were recovered at the scene and are being examined.
She added they were trying to determine triggering device used by attacker, whether it was cellphone or battery.
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