The Palace assured the local government of Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat that the national government is in control of the situation after a second bomb attack left two people dead and 14 others wounded.
“To the mayor and the residents of Isulan, President Rodrigo Duterte will not abandon you. In the midst of terrorism, the President’s message is that we are in control,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a radio interview upon the delegation’s arrival in Jerusalem.
“We will not be threatened. We will defend our democracy, and we will defend our republic,” Roque said, adding that the President and his Cabinet members had a small meeting while en route to Israel.
“The President has said that he has ordered the police and the military to actively investigate the two explosions in Isulan. And the President expressed thoughts that maybe there’s really a threat there,” said the Palace official.
“Even though the President is in Israel, he would do everything to go after the perpetrators of the incident,” he said.
“The President would task the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Department of Health, and the PNP (Philippine National Police) to provide aid that the town of Isulan needs,” he said.
In a separate statement, Palace denounced the latest attack in the south, adding it is deeply saddened by the casualties the incident caused.
“The President has been kept updated on all developments by the PNP, which has already ordered its men on the ground to increase visibility and patrol and tighten security,” said Roque.
“We ask the residents to report anything suspicious to the authorities as we bring to justice all culprits behind this dastardly attack,” he added.
The second in five days, the latest bombing occurred inside an Internet shop in Barangay Kalawag 2 at past 7 pm.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the police are still looking if the previous blast on Tuesday was related to the recent incident.
Albayalde has already ordered the relief of provincial police officials.
Town officials suspended classes in all levels after the second blast, bringing to five the number of dead in a span of six days.
The latest victims of the explosion were teenagers Marialyn Luda, 15 and Jan Mark Luda, 18, cousins who died hours apart after an improvised explosive device went off at an internet café near Novo Department Store in Barangay Kalawag 2 in Isulan town at about 7:30 pm Sunday.
The attack heightened anxiety among residents and led Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue to suspend classes in all levels until the security situation stabilized.
Reports said residents were cautioned from going to populated places and refrain from wandering in vulnerable areas during wee hours of the night, such as night markets, bars, and parks.
AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo urged communities to unite to reject attacks by terrorists.
“Only with that unity of our communities; only with that degree of vigilance and participation of our people combined with the diligent and dedicated government security forces can we as a nation triumph over these terrorists,” Arevalo said.
PNP spokesman Benigno Durana admitted there were lapses in the wake of the second explosion.
“Obviously, there were gaps in the security measures in place. That is why the officials of PNP Region 12 were relieved. This will also pave the way for a thorough and impartial investigation into Sunday’s incident, and another similar incident earlier,” Durana Jr. said.
“We should have doubled, if not tripled our efforts in installing security measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again. How are we going to fill in those loopholes? That will be a subject of further investigation by the local police,” he said.
The PNP and the military have deployed additional troops in Isulan and enforced mobile monitoring units and more checkpoints, and are conducting foot patrols in public places to intercept potential bombers.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were said to be behind Tuesday’s bomb attack that killed three people and wounded 35 others.
Durana said the PNP was mobilizing to pursue the bombers.
“While we express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased and sympathy to the wounded, we assure them of our keen resolve and commitment to bring before the bar of justice those responsible for this dastardly and vicious act,” Durana said.
Despite being on official mission abroad, PNP chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde has already directed police units in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) to further intensify conduct of checkpoints, police visibility patrols, and focused intelligence and law enforcement operations in close coordination with the AFP and other members of the security sector.
Albayalde is on official mission in Brunei Darussalam to head the PNP delegation in the annual Asean Association of Chiefs of Police Conference.
Albayalde also ordered the relief of Senior Supt. Noel Kinazo, provincial director of Sultan Kudarat, and Senior Supt. Celestino Daniel Jr., Isulan town chief of police, to pave the way for a thorough and impartial investigation into Sunday’s incident and a similar attack earlier.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said he hoped the two bomb attacks in Sultan Kudarat were not in reaction to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
In a separate development, two rescue speedboats of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Coast Guard were damaged when an improvised explosive device went off at 12:30 am Monday in the Masbate City Port in Bapor Village, Masbate City.
Chief Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) said no injury was reported.
At around 12:30 am Monday, a loud explosion from the port area was heard by residents in the village, she added.
This was the second time an IED exploded in the port area of Masbate City. Last Aug. 2, an IED also exploded in the area and damaged two motor boats owned by fishermen.
Masbate City Police headed by Chief of Police Supt. Paul Cabug immediately went to the area to probe the incident.
Police discovered that the Army’s 25-footer rescue speedboat made of fiberglass and Coast Guard’s 25 footer rescue aluminum speedboat and their engines were partially damaged by the explosion.
The speedboats were anchored just near the coast guard station at Masbate’s port area.
Recovered from the blast were orange PVC pipes, which are believed to be part of the IED, and scattered parts of the speedboats.
Calubaquib said police probers are conducting an in-depth investigation into the explosion and the motive of the suspects.
Army Capt. Joash Pramis, Army’s Infantry Division public affairs chief said in a phone interview on Monday that security measures would have to be stepped up following the explosion. He said they believed the communist New People’s Army was behind the attack. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA