Mindanao Times

Suicide bomb attack a ‘desperate act’

-

ZAMBOANGA CITY --The suicide bomb attack on a military camp Sunday is an indication of the Abu Sayyaf Group’s (ASG) desperatio­n to sow fear among Sulu residents because of its dwindling membership.

This was according to Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, who said it was ironic that the ASG is projecting to be a Muslim advocate for change but practicing acts forbidden in the Muslim faith.

“It is for this reason that I urged the peacelovin­g Tausugs to remain steadfast against the deceptive propaganda of the ASG, who have brought the decade-long menace in Sulu. Let us condemn this un-Islamic and terroristi­c acts and remain firm in our resolve to end this senseless barbaric acts committed by the ASG,” Vinluan said in a press statement Tuesday.

Vinluan lauded the troops of the 35th Infantry Battalion’s Alpha Company, the target of the attack, for their “superb presence of mind and execution of the camp defense” during the incident.

“The suicide bombing could have resulted in tremendous casualties if it was not properly addressed by our soldiers. Hence, I commend them for such heroic achievemen­t,” he said.

An alert sentinel thwarted the suicide bomb attack around 5:45 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu, when he noticed “a female person wearing black hijab, known as abaya, who was walking along the road of the Kilometer 3 highway going to the camp”.

The sentinel, while taking defensive position, immediatel­y shouted “huwag kang pumasok, huwag kang pumasok (do not enter, do not enter)” after noticing the unusual behaviour of the person in a black hijab.

The guard even interprete­d the warning in Tausug dialect to warn the other soldiers in the detachment to be on guard and take their fighting positions.

However, the suicide bomber disregarde­d the warning and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) that caused her instantane­ous death.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines