TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has put forward his analysis and scenarios after the deadly Davao City public market bombing.
Piñol, in his column of weekly Bohol Times on Sunday, said it is however too early yet to settle that the Abu Sayyaf terror group-bandits were the perpetrators of the bombing.
Abu Sayyaf, earlier, claimed responsibility of the violence. But police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa reportedly did not take it at its face value.
Piñol said the Abu Sayyaf Group is the “most plausible angle,” considering its connections with pro-ISIS splinter group of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). He cited Marwan, Dumatin and Fathor Al Ghozi and Basit Usman who trained the local boys in bomb-making.
It is also very possible that the bombing could be the handiwork of the ASG on account of President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s all-out war against the terror group in southern Philippines.
Another scenario, Piñol said, is the drug syndicates, who being very liquid (on drugs money), could hire mercenaries to carry out bombing “to deliver a message for President Rody Duterte.”
“Foreign bomb-making instructors, including Basit Usman, were able to train hundreds of young bomb-makers some of whom have become bombers for hire or have joined extortion groups like Al Khobar,” the former North Cotabato governor opined.
Piñol said drug syndicates could have been motivated to finance “bomber-for-hire” to get even on Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs and criminality.
He also cited the foreign destabilization groups as possible suspects behind the bombing. “His (Duterte) scathing statements attacking foreign government and institutions who have denounced his bloody campaign against drugs could have ruffled the feathers of foreign powers.”
Piñol also considered, although maybe remote, the “political angle and the involvement of the oligarchs” as behind the bombing. He said these oligarchs are threatened by Duterte’s drive against corruption and reforms, including the federal system. (FREEMAN)