MILF warns of witch-hunt in blast probe

CAMP DARAPANAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cautioned the government on conducting a witch-hunt in its investigation into the Christmas Day bombing of a chapel in a police camp in Jolo, Sulu, and instead censure local security authorities for their failure to prevent the attack.

The MILF, on its website (www.luwaran.net), said it was so surprising how the bombers succeeded in perpetrating the attack despite the detection by the intelligence community of a plot by extremists to bomb the worship site.

Police sources said police and Marine units in Sulu supposedly got information from different assets, among them local officials, purporting that the Abu Sayyaf would bomb the chapel.

President Aquino himself said yesterday that he received reports on a new terror campaign before the attack on the chapel. 

But the President said there were no “credible reports of a spillover” in Metro Manila, even as the police said they were stepping up security following the attack in Sulu. 

“We were a bit relieved that there were no people who got killed, but again, the atrocity to do it at a Mass (on) Christmas really speaks of the urgency for our security forces to apprehend people who would perpetrate such a dastardly crime,” he said.

Citing security lapses, police higher-ups yesterday relieved Sulu police director Superintendent Shepard Reyes from his post.

The chapel is located in tightly guarded Camp Asturias, the command center of the Sulu police command.

Eleven people, including a priest and a nine-year-old girl, were wounded in the bombing.

Intelligence reports tagged Abu Sayyaf members Sali Said, Najib Magdal, Alhabsi Misaya, Kahil Kadih, a certain Alal and Khan, as the ones plotting to bomb the chapel.

In another statement, the MILF’s central leadership condemned the bombing and branded it “satanic.” – With Aurea Calica, Mike Frialde and Christina Mendez