Indonesia is ready to assist the Philippines with the investigation into the suicide bombings in Jolo, Sulu last month, a senior government official said last Saturday.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said they intend to work closely with Indonesia after initial probe showed an Indonesian couple was behind the church bombing the killed dozens of people.
“Nagkausap din kami ng ating Pangulo noong isang gabi, iba ang sources niya pero it also lead to Indonesian couple,” he said over government radio.
“Siyempre bago natin ipa-finalize iyan, kailangan supported properly lalo na ng forensic at ng DNA. So mayroon tayong ugnayan sa Indonesian government – tutulong sila. At least mabubuo natin kung talagang ma-identify natin ito na talagang Indonesian itong bomber na nagpaputok dito sa cathedral,” he added.
Año earlier revealed that the Islamic State-linked Indonesian suicide bombers received help from the Abu Sayyaf Group in launching the Jan. 27 attack in Jolo. The notorious group, known for kidnap-for-ransom and killings in the South, supposedly provided surveillance and reconnaissance to aid the foreign terrorists in launching the church attack.
In the radio interview, Año claimed the Indonesian couple wanted to show an example to other Filipinos on how to carry out suicide attacks. He noted that Filipino terror elements do not carry out suicide bombings since it was “not in our tradition.”
“Parang gustong magpakita ng example at gusto nilang itaas sa religious war, kaya ang pinipili nila ay iyong mga simbahan, cathedral para pag-awayin iyong Kristiyano at saka Muslim,” he added.
Año also warned about the presence of other foreign terror suspects in Jolo but assured that government troops have launched operations against them and their ASG cohorts.
He acknowledged that the terror suspects were aiming to set up an Islamic State movement in the South and recruit more people to their cause. (Genalyn Kabiling)
