THE attack on an Army camp in Sulu two weeks ago carried out by what appeared to be a Moroccan boy and a son of a Filipino Muslim convert, has raised to a higher level—or into a new form—the government’s campaign against terrorism in Mindanao.
The “suicide bombing,” which Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana still refuses to acknowledge as such, also fulfilled the highest purpose of Moro radicalization that the government is struggling to stop.
Sobejana said that by the definition of suicide bombing, the bomb should be detonated by the bomber itself, which, in the case of Norman Lasuca, one of the two men in the attack of the camp of the 1st Brigade Combat Team in Indanan, Sulu, brought the possibility that it could have been detonated by somebody else from a distance.
While the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory has confirmed the identity and nationality of Lasuca after cross matching his DNA samples with members of his family, it did not probe the possibility raised by Sobejana.
Nevertheless, the military’s general headquarters declared the attack as a suicide bombing.
“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,” said military spokesman Brig. Edgard Arevalo.
“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 during a joint news briefing with PNP Spokesman Col. Bernard Banac on Wednesday.
Until the first suicide bombing by a Filipino happened, Sobejana said they had been working to stop the continuing radicalization of the Moros in Mindanao, and he said this as the top military commander in Sulu in 2017, and later in Central Mindanao. Sobejana was being installed as the Wesmincom commander when the attack happened in Sulu.
The attack that killed seven people, including Lasuca and the other suicide bomber, was blamed on the ASG, whose members are being relentlessly hunted by Sobejana and his men in Sulu. The bombing, however, was initially owned by the Islamic State.
“We’ve been working hard to combat radicalization and its spread among the Moros in Mindanao. We are visiting schools, including Islamic schools, teaching students and the Moros about the dangers of radicalization,” Sobejana said.
He said Moro leaders, local officials and community leaders were also involved in the initiative.
Islamic schools
Earlier, Brig Gen. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Brigade based in Marawi City, said they have monitored some Islamic schools, even those in the northern area of the country, including Baguio City, that have been teaching radical lessons about Islam.
“We talked to them and showed the battered Marawi as an example,” he said.
The government feared that moves by Islamic groups to radicalize the Moros would give birth to Filipino suicide bombers, and that may have happened in the case of Lasuca.
The 23-year-old Lasuca, a son of a Balik Islam, was only about 16 or 17 years old when he joined the ASG.
“Another reason that he joined the group is to escape from his mechanic father, who constantly beat him,” Sobejana said.
He said Lasuca initially joined the group of ASG Commander Yasser Igasan in Sulu, but when Igasan died, he joined the group of Hajan Sawadjaan, who is now the acting leader of the Dawla Islamiya in Mindanao.
Sobejana said the military in Mindanao was actively implementing the National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism that aims to stop the spread of radicalism and violent extremism, especially among the Moros.
They were also using Executive Order (EO) 70 issued by President Duterte as a guide in dealing with terrorism and radicalization.
“While EO 70 deals with the insurgency problem, we are also using it as a template in dealing with violent extremism,” Sobejana.
“Dangerous time ahead”
The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, cited the need for lawmakers to understand the need to support measures that will enhance its capability to secure the country against the threat of terrorism.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde made the remark after President Duterte asked the police and the military to be prepared for “dangerous times ahead”.
Citing the case of the first suicide bombing perpetrated by a Filipino in Sulu last June 28, the PNP chief said he has earlier warned Congress to prepare for these situations.
“I have been telling that to Congress that we really have to prepare for this. I think no less than the President said that there are dangerous times ahead it’s because he foresees these kinds of global terrorism will not end in few years time,” Albayalde told reporters on the sidelines of a gun show in Mandaluyong City.
“Unang-una definitely, the playing field will evolve. I think the more that we should get serious on this, not only the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP but also the whole government. There is a need to intensify this campaign, especially our counter-terrorism efforts,” he added.
The country’s top cop said certain measures to improve the country’s response to terrorism is up to Congress to act on.
“We need a lot of equipment and even the laws, these need to be amended for it to be applicable to the present situation. There is need to amend especially the Human Security Act and the [National] ID system. There are various surveillance equipment. Many are offering that we really have to determine what do we need,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde added the PNP and AFP could not afford yet to improve on its surveillance capabilities because it is costly, for “political reasons” and because of the law, which protects the people’s privacy.
Once amended, the country’s top cop said the Human Security Act could also boost the law enforcer’s surveillance capability and anti-terrorism and insurgency operations.
Since Duterte’s assumption in 2016, the PNP has been provided with not just operational requirements but also morale and welfare services, which have improved living standards of uniformed personnel and their families.
“Over the last three years, the PNP has been able to keep up with our modernization and development plan with the procurement of more and better equipment, and recruitment of more personnel,” PNP spokesman, Col. Bernard Banac said.
“Between now and three years hence, the PNP is in a better position to perform its law enforcement and public safety maough enhanced operational capability,” 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, that killed 20 persons, including the alleged suicide bombers, last January 27. With PNA
While the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory has confirmed the identity and nationality of Lasuca after cross matching his DNA samples with members of his family, it did not probe the possibility raised by Sobejana.
Nevertheless, the military’s general headquarters declared the attack as a suicide bombing.
“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,” said military spokesman Brig. Edgard Arevalo.
“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 during a joint news briefing with PNP Spokesman Col. Bernard Banac on Wednesday.
Until the first suicide bombing by a Filipino happened, Sobejana said they had been working to stop the continuing radicalization of the Moros in Mindanao, and he said this as the top military commander in Sulu in 2017, and later in Central Mindanao. Sobejana was being installed as the Wesmincom commander when the attack happened in Sulu.
The attack that killed seven people, including Lasuca and the other suicide bomber, was blamed on the ASG, whose members are being relentlessly hunted by Sobejana and his men in Sulu. The bombing, however, was initially owned by the Islamic State.
“We’ve been working hard to combat radicalization and its spread among the Moros in Mindanao. We are visiting schools, including Islamic schools, teaching students and the Moros about the dangers of radicalization,” Sobejana said.
He said Moro leaders, local officials and community leaders were also involved in the initiative.
Islamic schools
Earlier, Brig Gen. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Brigade based in Marawi City, said they have monitored some Islamic schools, even those in the northern area of the country, including Baguio City, that have been teaching radical lessons about Islam.
“We talked to them and showed the battered Marawi as an example,” he said.
The government feared that moves by Islamic groups to radicalize the Moros would give birth to Filipino suicide bombers, and that may have happened in the case of Lasuca.
The 23-year-old Lasuca, a son of a Balik Islam, was only about 16 or 17 years old when he joined the ASG.
“Another reason that he joined the group is to escape from his mechanic father, who constantly beat him,” Sobejana said.
He said Lasuca initially joined the group of ASG Commander Yasser Igasan in Sulu, but when Igasan died, he joined the group of Hajan Sawadjaan, who is now the acting leader of the Dawla Islamiya in Mindanao.
Sobejana said the military in Mindanao was actively implementing the National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism that aims to stop the spread of radicalism and violent extremism, especially among the Moros.
They were also using Executive Order (EO) 70 issued by President Duterte as a guide in dealing with terrorism and radicalization.
“While EO 70 deals with the insurgency problem, we are also using it as a template in dealing with violent extremism,” Sobejana.
“Dangerous time ahead”
The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, cited the need for lawmakers to understand the need to support measures that will enhance its capability to secure the country against the threat of terrorism.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde made the remark after President Duterte asked the police and the military to be prepared for “dangerous times ahead”.
Citing the case of the first suicide bombing perpetrated by a Filipino in Sulu last June 28, the PNP chief said he has earlier warned Congress to prepare for these situations.
“I have been telling that to Congress that we really have to prepare for this. I think no less than the President said that there are dangerous times ahead it’s because he foresees these kinds of global terrorism will not end in few years time,” Albayalde told reporters on the sidelines of a gun show in Mandaluyong City.
“Unang-una definitely, the playing field will evolve. I think the more that we should get serious on this, not only the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP but also the whole government. There is a need to intensify this campaign, especially our counter-terrorism efforts,” he added.
The country’s top cop said certain measures to improve the country’s response to terrorism is up to Congress to act on.
“We need a lot of equipment and even the laws, these need to be amended for it to be applicable to the present situation. There is need to amend especially the Human Security Act and the [National] ID system. There are various surveillance equipment. Many are offering that we really have to determine what do we need,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde added the PNP and AFP could not afford yet to improve on its surveillance capabilities because it is costly, for “political reasons” and because of the law, which protects the people’s privacy.
Once amended, the country’s top cop said the Human Security Act could also boost the law enforcer’s surveillance capability and anti-terrorism and insurgency operations.
Since Duterte’s assumption in 2016, the PNP has been provided with not just operational requirements but also morale and welfare services, which have improved living standards of uniformed personnel and their families.
“Over the last three years, the PNP has been able to keep up with our modernization and development plan with the procurement of more and better equipment, and recruitment of more personnel,” PNP spokesman, Col. Bernard Banac said.
“Between now and three years hence, the PNP is in a better position to perform its law enforcement and public safety maough enhanced operational capability,” 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, that killed 20 persons, including the alleged suicide bombers, last January 27. With PNA
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