A total lockdown has been put into place in Jolo, Sulu as police investigators scour for more clues on the twin bombings that hit the Jolo Cathedral and killed at least 20 persons and injured 112 others.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the lockdown was decided to contain the situation in the area.
“Nagbigay order ang NHQ (National Headquarters) para sa lockdown. Total lockdown sa Jolo, Sulu kaya makita natin walang tao at sarado ang mga tindahan,” said Albayalde, who flew to Jolo to oversee the ongoing investigation.
“Kapag nag-normalize doon tayo maglower ng alert status,” he added.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, allayed fears of Jolo residents, saying the measure is for their own safety.
“It only means that we are intensifying our checkpoint operations. Those who will be coming and going out of Jolo proper will undergo further inspection and strict implementation of security measures. Aside from that, there’s really nothing anymore from the term lockdown but to put emphasis on the strict implementation of security measures,”
he explained.
Banac, however, said there is no direct order for residents to stay home.
“Kaya lang naiintindihan natin na nandoon ang kanilang pangamba kaya walang lumalabas. Pero ang ating panawagan sa lahat ng mamamayan ng Jolo na sila ay lumabas at magpatuloy ng kanilang pang araw araw na pamumuhay at wag magpadala sa takot,” Banac said.
Albayalde said investigators have difficulty finding pieces of evidence at the blast site.
Only parts of a mobile phone were discovered inside the church, bolstering theory that the bombs were detonated electronically.
Earlier, police claimed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were used in the attack.
“Wala pang masabi kung anong klaseng bomba dahil walang marecover na residue although may mga nakuha silang parts na cellphone. Pero hindi pa nila masabi kung cellphone-detonated, most probably cellphone detonated. Ang timing ng blast is 12 to 15 seconds so talaga itong electronically detonated,” Albayalde said.
He also said around two kilos of explosives were used in the bomb attack.
The first bomb exploded at 8:58 p.m. while Mass was ongoing, according to police.
“Halos nasa second reading pa lang daw nang pumutok itong IED. Halos puno ang simbahan. Sa thinking ng pari, mga nasa 100 nasa loob,” Albayalde said.
Following the explosion, soldiers Jolo placed on lockdown and cops responded immediately to rescue the victims, but were greeted with a second blast at the parking area of the cathedral.
The second bomb was reportedly installed at a parked motorcycle but police have yet to confirm this information.
It is not clear whether the bomb was already placed before the Mass or was left by the suspect.
This raised suspicion that security was lax.
Albayalde said the soldiers and police providing security at the cathedral work on shifts. “Kapag may nagma-mass, ang arrangment sundalo ang nasa innner perimeter at mga pulis ang nasa labas,” Albayalde said.
“Probably naging normal na rito ang security for so many years kasi walang insidente kaya medyo relax ang security. At the same time, sino ba mag-aakala? Hindi nila naisip na ipapasok ito sa place of worship,” he added.
Albayalde said they have yet to identify the suspect or suspects behind the grim attack.
The military earlier pointed to the Ajang Ajang Group of the Abu Sayyaf Group as the possible perpetrators of the incident. The Islamic State (ISIS) has already claimed responsibility for the attack.
“May mga tinitingnan tayong mga threat groups. May mga nagsasalita na sila ang may gawa pero titingnan pa natin,” Albayalde said.
A person of interest has been identified through a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by the military. However, there were no other details provided on the person’s identity. (Martin Sadongdong)