The bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi City that left four people dead and wounded dozens more this month was a “failure to appreciate intelligence,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Friday.
“I would like to echo Senator Dela Rosa’s statement after we briefed him that there was a failure to appreciate intelligence,” Teodoro said in a televised interview on ANC.
“And it is safe for me to say that had there been police or Armed Forces people inside the MSU compound, then appropriate security measures would have been done that would have forestalled this incident,” he added.
Teodoro said there was no failure of intelligence on the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“I hope [for] some corrective measures if there were lapses on the part of the AFP. Naturally, we will take corrective action and we will be more vigilant and aggressive in monitoring extremism and terrorism. However, I can confidently say that it is not a failure of intelligence on the part of either the Philippine National Police or the AFP,” said Teodoro.
When asked if it was a failure on the part of MSU officials to identify the threat, the Defense chief said this is still under scrutiny.
“The fact is that the MSU has its own security force and AFP and PNP personnel are not allowed to enter MSU without their request or unless they have prior consent,” he said.
Teodoro earlier said this was “something the appropriate authorities must look into.”
Authorities have tagged two members of the Islamic State led Daulah Islamiyah – Maute Group as suspects in the attack, namely Kadapi Mimbesa or “Engineer,” and Arsani Membesa or “Khatab.”