Suicide bomber behind Jolo blasts? No confirmation yet, says Albayalde

 © GMA News At a press conference in Camp Crame on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the police force will not take part in any move against the Duterte administration. He also said there is no need to conduct loyalty check among policemen. GMA News

There is no confirmation yet that the January 27 twin bombings at a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, were the handiwork of a suicide bomber, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Albayalde said there will be a clearer picture once authorities determine the identities of two of the 20 victims whose bodies were mangled as a result of the powerful explosion inside the Mt. Carmel Cathedral.

"Wala pa pong confirmation kung talagang suicide bomber 'yan," he said. "Halos lahat na [ng fatalities], meron lang isa o dalawang hindi ma-identify na pira-pirasong katawan. 'Yun na po ang tinitignan nito," he said.

Asked on the likelihood that one of the two still unidentified fatalities was the one who brought the bomb inside the church, Albayalde said, "Hindi pa natin masabi 'yan."

Albayalde also said investigators have identified a person who was caught on CCTV images before the twin blasts as a member of  Ajang-Ajang, a group affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf.

The attack, which occurred days after the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and despite the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, was one of the deadliest in recent years in a region.

Albayalde said churches in Jolo, including Mt Carmel, are not new to threats.

"Yan po kasi ay based sa nakuha nating reports dun sa mga pari. Madalas silang makakuha ng threat doon. Accordingly pangpito na ito," he said, referring to the recent blasts.

Malacañang has vowed to destroy those behind the two bombings — the first inside the cathedral and was followed by a second blast outside, which was detonated as security forces raced to the scene. —KBK, GMA News