Failure of security protocol led to Jolo twin blasts, lawmaker says

MANILA, Philippines — Echoing Malacañang's earlier statement, Rep. Jericho Nograles (PBA party-list and caretaker for Sulu and Davao City) said he thinks there was a failure of security protocol in Jolo, leading to twin blasts that left more than 20 people dead and dozens others injured.

"Exactly as (presidential spokesperson Salvador) Panelo said that the president is disappointed with what happened and there is an admission of a lack of security protocol, that there is a failure of security protocol there and some even say failure of intelligence," Nograles told CNN Philippines' "The Source" on Tuesday.

Nograles, who is caretaker of Sulu's 1st District, noted that the threat against the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo had been present for five months and security protocols had been set up to address it.

He said vehicles have been banned from cordoned areas near the church for the past five months.

"The people of Jolo have already adjusted to that and have already stopped going through such routes... For the past five months, most of Sulu don't even pass through that area," Nograles said.

The lawmaker also pointed out that there are three different areas where the public was supposed to be subject to a security search before being allowed to enter the church.

Nograles said the military was working hard to secure the area but admitted that there have been lapses in security.

"There has to be lapses. How could somebody enter the church with a bomb?" he said.

'Bombing justifies martial law'

For Nograles, the incident in Jolo is another reason to justify the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

"It's not a perfect martial law... If there wasn't martial law five months ago, making that security cordon is harder," he said.

Mindanao has been under martial law since May 2017.

Meanwhile, business goes on as usual while authorities look into the explosions at the Jolo cathedral, he said.

Nograles clarified that only a portion of the town is on lockdown following the incident.

"I'd like to correct that the lockdown is only in specific areas of Jolo. That specific areas would be in the cathedral area and business as usual goes on today," Nograles said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray