AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo (left) and PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac (right). (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA -- Adjustments in security techniques, tactics, and procedures will be adapted following the June 28 suicide bombing attack in Sulu, which claimed the lives of at least seven people and wounded 22 others.
This was bared by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo in an interview with reporters Wednesday.
"Definitely, we will have adjustments in our (security) techniques, tactics, and procedure given this development in Sulu but as you know and I know you would understand we just cannot reveal that to you because those are operational matters that cannot be publicly announced," he said.
Arevalo also said the AFP will also develop doctrines for fighting in urban terrain based on the combat experience of soldiers during the five-month battle for Marawi City in 2017.
Earlier, the military and police confirmed that one of the two bombers behind the suicide bombing attack at the tactical command post of the 1st Brigade Combat Team in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu, was a Filipino as proven by DNA tests.
"This springs from the outcome of the joint investigation by the AFP and the result of the DNA testing by the PNP(Philippine National Police) of the samples taken from Mrs. Vilman Lasuca (mother) and Alhussin Alam Lasuca (brother) -- both Tausug Filipinos and that of Norman Lasuca, the suicide bomber," Arevalo said.
In the wake of these developments, the AFP and PNP assured the public that they are exerting all efforts to defeat the threat of terrorism in Mindanao.
“The AFP and the PNP would like to allay the fears of our countrymen notwithstanding this development where we can confirm and is now confirming the incidence of the first suicide bombing in the Philippines perpetrated by Norman Lasuca,” Arevalo said.
The AFP, for its part, vowed to "pursue the principals behind this dastardly and cowardly act -- relentlessly and untiringly -- to bring justice and legal retribution for the victims of this crime."
“We wish to highlight the fact that the AFP has its keen focus on Sulu to defeat the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) put a stop to the terrorist activities and atrocities they commit against the people of Sulu, in Mindanao and the country,” he added.
In compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to crush the ASG bandits, the AFP has earlier deployed a Marine Battalion Landing Team, and another Army Infantry Battalion in Sulu.
The military spokesperson said aside from the already existing forces in Sulu, the 11th Infantry Division was activated to intensify the conduct of a surgical and focused military operation.
This is aside from additional naval and air assets to be deployed in the province.
Arevalo also noted that the military is pursuing the continuing National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent extremism aimed at curbing the spread of radicalism and violent extremism and cutting support for local terrorist groups.
“We vigorously continue our collaboration and information sharing with our counterpart nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States to name a few, to harness our conduct of operations,” he added.
The military spokesperson also cited the need to amend the Human Security Act in order to remove the provision, which imposes a hefty fine for members of security forces who wrongfully detained a suspected terrorist and increase the authorized period of detention of a suspected terrorist from three days to 30 days.
“Against this backdrop, we Filipinos should unite in this fight against terrorism. This is not only of the AFP’s and the PNP’s. This drive to protect our nation, our families, and our posterity from the ugly deadly face and outcome of terrorism is everybody's concern,” Arevalo stressed.
Citing the increase in tourist arrivals and the Philippines’ ranking as among the best places in the world to live and work, the AFP spokesperson noted that these are great reasons for the people to work together to fight terrorism.
“We should take inspiration from the fact the Philippines has been ranked 24th best place to live and work, just behind the US, which ranked 23rd, and ahead of China, which ranked 26th. That’s according to the 2019 HSBC Expat’s annual survey, which is based on responses from more than 18,000 expats across 163 markets on three metrics: living, career opportunity, and family life. And the increase in tourist arrival in the Philippines by 9.6 percent reckoned from (January) ‘19. All of these are great reasons for all of us to unite and help one another to curb terrorism,” he added.
The June 28 incident is the third of its kind in Mindanao with the first in a military checkpoint in Lamitan, Basilan on July 31, 2018, killing 10 people.
The second was in a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu which killed 20 persons, including the alleged suicide bombers, last January 27. (PNA)
