2 Jolo suicide bombers were terrorists’ widows

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two widows of Islamist terrorists were the ones who set off the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) last Monday in Sulu, killing themselves together with 15 state forces and civilians and wounding 78 others, according to military officials.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, in the Visayas as part of ground command visits, yesterday identified the women as alias Nanh, widow of the first known Filipino suicide bomber, Norman Lasuca, and alias Indah Nay, wife of slain Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Talha Jumsah alias Abu Talha, former liaison of the Islamic State.

“Yes, the two were the wives of the first Filipino suicide bomber and that of the slain ASG-ISIS conduit. The information were based on the initial findings of our ground forces,” he said.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan also confirmed that the bombers were women.

He said the police forensic experts were getting more evidence to ascertain the bombers’ identities.

“Yes, but it is still to be scientifically proven,” according to Vinluan, who was in Jolo yesterday for a security meeting with Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sr. and the local government units of the province.

Lasuca and an accomplice said to be of Moroccan descent struck the camp of 1st Brigade Combat Team sitio Tanjung, Barangay Kajatian, Indanan town on June 28, 2019 where five died and 11 were injured.

Abu Talha was killed on Nov. 22, 2019 when Army Scout Rangers pounced on the Abu Sayyaf lair in sitio Tubig Amu, Barangay Tanum, Patikul town.

The first female suicide bomber exploded the IED strapped to her body between the military M450 and M35 trucks parked temporarily in front of Paradise Food Plaza along Serantes Street, just across the public plaza and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral.

The explosion shattered the body of the suspect beyond recognition.

The second attacker, clad in burqa, detonated her bomb after she was prevented by Private John Agustin to breach the cordon and hit a larger military and police security crowd.

Agustin, a member of the 35th Infantry Battalion and native of Polomok, South Cotabato, and many of his fellow troopers died from the explosion.

Vinluan visited the soldiers injured in the blasts to check on them at Military Station Hospital inside Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista and awarded them with medals.

Vinluan also visited Tuesday five of the injured soldiers who were brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City and awarded them medals.

At least seven soldiers, a policeman and six civilians were killed while the injured include 24 soldiers, six police and 48 civilians.

Vinluan said massive pursuit operation was launched against the Abu Sayyaf while intelligence units were tracking down other possible suicide bombers to prevent similar attacks.

Armed Forces chief Gilbert Gapay vowed Wednesday to exact justice against the perpetrators of the terror attack.

“No sensible religion or ideology would ever endorse these hapless attacks. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Rest assured that their sacrifices will not be in vain,” Gapay said in a statement here.

Homage to soldiers

The Philippine Army has paid homage to the eight soldiers who died in the twin suicide bombings in Jolo.

The PA identified the personnel who were killed in action as Staff Sgt. Louie Cuarteros, Staff Sgt. Manuelito Oria, Pvt. Omair Muksan, Pvt. Juvienjay Emlani, Pvt. John Ray Paler, Pvt. Aiub Sahid, Pvt. James Apolinario from the 21st Infantry Battalion and Pvt. John P. Agustin from 35th Infantry Battalion.

Army Gen. Sobejana extended condolences to the families of the fallen and assured them of assistance.

“The Philippine Army grieves over the death of these men. We honor their sacrifice in serving our country and protecting the people of Jolo, Sulu,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, though there is no direct threat in Eastern Mindanao, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) is keeping its guard up for any possible spillover of last Monday’s terror attack by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Government troops in the region assured the public that ground units will remain vigilant and on full alert following the incident.

Sayyaf sub-leader nabbed in Sibugay

An Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, long in hiding and disguised as a seaweed farmer, was arrested by combined police and intelligence units during raid at dawn yesterday in Mabuhay town, Zamboanga Sibugay, officials said.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) director, identified the suspect as Jamiul Nassalon, 41, also known under the aliases Ustadz Amih, Abu Harris, Tii, Abu Janar and Jamih, and a resident of sitio Kasanyangan, Barangay Caliran, Mabuhay.

Joint police operatives composed of Regional Intelligence Unit, Mobile Force Battalion and Regional Maritime Unit 9, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, armed with warrant of arrest, hatched the raid and captured Nassalon about 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Caliran.

“The suspect was caught by surprise and peacefully gave up to the raiding team,” Cambay said.

Cambay said Nassalon is an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, wanted for the crime of kidnapping with serious illegal detention with ransom.

He said Nassalon also has a standing criminal case for the crime of multiple attempted murder issued by the local court of Zamboanga City which recommended P120,000-peso bail and another for attempted murder without bail.

According to Cambay, the suspect was tagged in the kidnapping and beheading of Doroteo Gonzales in 2009 in Barangay Buenavista, east of this city.

Accountability

Meanwhile, a peasant group is demanding truth and accountability on the latest Jolo bombings, as well as justice for the victims who perished and were wounded in the blasts.

“The Jolo, Sulu twin blasts that happened last August 24 is highly condemnable… We condole with their families and the entire Jolo, Sulu population,” the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said.

“At the same time, we warn the Philippine National Police to refrain from using this heinous attack to justify heightened police presence and abuse of authority in the National Capital Region and other urban centers,” Danilo Ramos, KMP chairperson said.

“It’s a predictable move from the PNP,” he said, referring to heightened alert in NCR and intensified checkpoints as well random inspection. “This terror incident must not be used as pretext to declare martial law in Sulu, like what Duterte did in 2017 when he declared martial law in Mindanao after the Marawi siege.”

Screen LSIs from Mindanao

Police will strictly screen locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Mindanao bound for Metro Manila and other parts of the country following the twin bombings in Jolo.

In an interview yesterday over Teleradyo, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said police officers will counter-check an LSI’s identity and background through the issued travel authority.

The national government has required LSIs to obtain travel passes from the local government units where they have been stranded after the lockdown was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Travel passes ensure an orderly transfer of stranded individuals to their hometowns. – Emmanuel Tupas, Michael Punongbayan, Rhodina Villanueva