Martial law not solution to bombings in southern Philippines: Lorenzana

July 1, 2019

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said martial law is not a solution to the bombings in southern Philippines despite three incidents in Sulu and Basilan.

"This is the third one. The first one was in Lamitan. The second was cathedral in Jolo and this is the third one so it's becoming an occurrence and we are very much concerned about this," he said Monday.

"Martial law actually is not the solution to all these (bombing incidents) because anybody, an individual or two individuals can just go anywhere because we have not controlled the movement of people in Mindanao," he said.

Lorenzana expressed belief the explosion at a military camp in Indanan, Sulu last Friday was caused by suicide bombers.

"That is evident from the report of the soldiers because this guy knocked on the gate so the guard went near to ask what the person need, When the guard was at the gate, the person exploded so this it is obviously a suicide bombing," he said.

"Personally I think its a suicide bombing because he was carrying the bomb and he detonated it within the perimeter. There were two of them actually," said Lorenzana.

Lorenzana added the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS) claimed the bombing that killed eight people including three soldiers while 22 were injured.

"The ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) yes, the ISIS claimed responsibility but we are checking, In fact, somebody said the bombers were Indonesians. Somebody said Filipinos but let us wait our conclusion until we get the, checking of the DNA of these people," he said.

Lorenzana expressed hope the same attack will not happen in urban centers of the country.

"Well all we have to do is be very watchful and very vigilant here, hopefully it will not attack Manila or any other urban centers in the Philippines," he said. Robina Asido/DMS