The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said it is looking into reports that the Abu Sayyaf group has deployed a second van with explosives similar to those used in Lamitan, Basilan.
The military refused to give further details but said operations are now ongoing against “persons of interest” to quell another possible attack.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman said while there are some Abu Sayyaf members who have surrendered, the terrorist group still maintains some bomb experts.
“They still have people. Those who surrendered said that those who have been trained are still there,” Hataman said in Filipino.
The Palace urged the public Friday not to speculate or jump to any conclusions following the latest terrorist attack in Lamitan, Basilan.
“For now, I ask the public to cease and desist from making any speculation and let us wait for the final investigation report from law enforcement agencies,” said Roque in a press briefing in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Roque made the remark upon the claim that suicide bombers from the Islamic State infiltrated the country and executed the bombing in Lamitan killing 10 people and severely injuring several others.
“I would not jump to any conclusion. So far, we know that there has been a local cleric who has been ordered arrested. We know that it was exploded in a vehicle and that it killed both passengers and those manning the checkpoint. I still have to get a final investigation report from law enforcement agencies,” Roque said.
He added that they are still verifying that the ISIS was behind the attack as it was very easy to claim credit for a foreign attack.
On Thursday, Malacañang vowed to bring the perpetrators behind the latest terrorist attack.
The Philippine National Police on Friday also advised the public to ignore scare rumors.
“There is no specific threat on any particular target. Therefore, the text scare being spread around is untrue and is obviously designed only to create panic. Scare messages of this nature deserve to be discarded and not shared,” the PNP said in a statement.
“Break the scare chain. Delete that message as soon as it is received,” it added.
The PNP said it was laying out a preventive plan that would deter terrorists from infiltrating the community.
It asked the public to remain vigilant, but reminded them that “panic will only make matters worse.”
Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city has doubled security measures especially with information of another possible bombing. He said measures have also been taken to protect checkpoints.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said another terrorist attempt may be prevented if the community will be more vigilant of movements in their territories.
The AFP said there was no sign that Tuesday’s attack in Lamitan was carried out by a suicide bomber.
“I would like to make it clear for now that there is no indication that the Basilan blast was a suicide bombing,” said AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo.
He said many factors could have contributed to the explosion, including the possibility that the still unidentified driver could have panicked after seeing the soldiers at the checkpoint.
The AFP spokesperson added that the military also believes that the van driver, who was among the 10 persons killed in the blast, was not the bomber but only a courier of the IEDs.
Intelligence reports said the Abu Sayyaf Group was planning to deploy the explosives in populated areas in Lamitan City.
Arevalo said it is also possible that a companion of the courier, who acted as a “sweeper,” could have detonated the IEDs upon seeing the courier being intercepted by soldiers at the checkpoint.
In the wake of the Lamitan attack, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority is on heightened alert.
MCIAA general manager, Steve Dicdican, announced Thursday night that they have intensified security measures at the airport and its premises on orders of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“Our facilities must be kept protected from any incident caused by inadequate security measures and lapses in our security procedures,” he said, stressing the need for inter-agency cooperation against any threat to public order and safety. With PNA