Lorenzana was aware of threat to churches in Mindanao — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Defense was aware of existing threats against churches in Mindanao prior to the bombing of a Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this was the reason why Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered the deployment of more troops in churches.

"Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was telling me, 'You know, the threat against the churches, we knew about that,'" Panelo said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The problem was that the perpetrators pretended to be churchgoers, avoiding suspicion from government troops inspecting the area, according to Lorenzana.

The Malacañang spokesman also confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte has declared an all-out war against terror groups following his visit to the blast site in Jolo.

"He just said all-out war, maybe against the perpetrators and for that matter all enemies of state in the region," Panelo said.

Panelo earlier said security lapses may have led to the twin bombings at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, leaving more than 20 people dead and dozens of others injured.

"There may be some lapses in security. How they were able to put there — is that a motorcycle with a bomb — despite the fact that there were soldiers securing the place," Panelo said in a press briefing Monday.

This was agreed upon by Rep. Jericho Nograles (PBA party-list and caretaker for Sulu and Davao City) who also confirmed that there have been threats to churches as early as five months ago.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source," Nograles said the military was working hard to secure the area as there have been three different areas where persons entering the Jolo cathedral had to undergo inspection in order to enter.

"There has to be lapses. How could somebody enter the church with a bomb?" Nograles said.

The lawmaker also stressed the incident in Jolo justifies the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, which has been in place since May 2017.

"It's not a perfect martial law... If there wasn't martial law five months ago, making that security cordon is harder," he said.