Bangsamoro police to confirm identity, nationality of Jolo suicide bombers

August 26, 2020

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police  said the DNA samples of one of the alleged suicide bombers in Jolo twin blast will undergo tests so they can determine her identities.

“We are still investigating who is this woman who is involved in the explosion,” said Brig. General Manuel Abu said in a radio interview  Wednesday.

“We can do something about (her identity) since we have DNA samples that will be checked by a proper agency. We were able to get the head, limbs and some of the body parts of the alleged lady bomber,” Abu added.

He said it is too early to say her nationality as they might file a case against a wrong person.

“There are some reports from our counterparts in Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that they are Indonesian nationals but as investigators, we want to make sure that the person they are referring to is really involved in the explosion because for us is investigation and we have to file cases,” he said.

“We might file a case against a wrong person,” he added.

Abu said they are also looking into the possibility that there are two suicide bombers.

“The second explosion based on our review on CCTV (footage) is also caused by a female (bomber),” he said.

Asked about the military’s claim that the two alleged suicide bombers were the target of the four Army soldiers who were killed by police officers, Abu said it is only intelligence-based.

“That is their allegation but what they are saying is intelligence-based only. Our investigation is we want to be evidence-based because I have said, we have to file cases against people,” Abu said.

 The twin explosions in Barangay Walled City, Jolo resulted in the death of at least 15 individuals, including a police commando and soldiers, and injuring more than 70 people. Ella Dionisio/DMS