NBI to join probe into Jolo cathedral bombing

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation will join the probe into the twin bombing incident at a church in Jolo, Sulu last weekend.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday authorized the NBI to conduct investigation and case build up on the bombing incident that left at least 20 dead and more than a hundred injured.

The NBI is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

“It’s mass murder and desecration of a place of worship,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

“Our NBI field operatives in Zamboanga have already been sent to assist in the investigation, and additional law enforcement units have been deployed to hunt and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Justice secretary added.

Top security officials fly to blast site

Senior security officials, including the heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, flew to Jolo in Sulu ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte, who is said to be heading to the province to assess the situation there himself.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Secretary Hergenes Esperon, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal of the AFP, and Director General Oscar Albyalde of the PNP flew to Jolo to inspect the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral, the provincial police director said. 

Senior Superintendent Pablo Labra II, Sulu Provincial Police Office director, said Albayalde inspected the blast sites in the Jolo church where 20 people have been confirmed killed and 97 others were injured.

The military Western Mindanao Command said early Monday morning that among those killed in the blasts were five soldiers, two coast guard personnel and 13 civilians. Of those wounded, 78 are civilians, two are coat guard personnel and two are police officers.
Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of Westmincom, said at least 22 of those wounded have been brought to Zamboanga City for further treatment of their injuries.
 
At least 12 of the injured civilians were brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center, two injured soldiers were transferred to two private hospitals, while the rest were brought to the Camp Navarro General Hospital in the Westmincom headquarters.

The remains of five soldiers and a coast guard personnel were also flown to Zamboanga City and brought to a private funeral home.

Lockdown in Jolo

Philippine authorities put Jolo under a lockdown following the bombing.

Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, flew to Jolo, Sulu on Monday morning to lead the post-blast investigation.

Jolo has been placed under lockdown after the bombing. Albayalde, in a televised interview early on Monday, said that there are roadblocks and checkpoints in the area.

Cops nationwide were also under heightened alert status, following the bombing.

The heightened alert status “aims to ensure that no similar plans of terrorist groups will be carried out in other regions,” said Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, acting chief of the PNP’s public information office, in a separate press conference.

Police regional directors were also given the discretion to raise the alert status if they deemed necessary.

Law enforcement agencies have been on heightened alert since the start of the election period.

President Rodrigo Duterte hasl also yet to lift the state of national emergency he declared since the bombing in the Davao City night market in September 2016.

Banac stressed that this new directive of a heightened alert status is “to put more emphasis and remind once again all our units and offices to maintain alertness and intensify some more.” — Kristine Joy Patag with areport from Zamboanga City by Roel Pareño/The STAR