No indication of bombing threats in Mindanao: Lorenzana

January 2, 2019

There is no indication of a bombing threat in Mindanao, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana following the release of United Kingdom and Australia of a travel advisory warning their citizens of visiting the region.

"No, we don't have indications that there will be other bombings," he said in a statement.

Lorenzana said the British advisory is an "automatic and default warning of governments to their nationals". He said this like what the Philippines does "when these things happen in other countries."

"It is normal and ordinary. We hear about these advisories all the time," Lorenzana added.

In an interview with reporters, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said it's the prerogative of countries to look after the welfare of their nationals.

"We are enhancing our security measures so that (this incident) will not happen again," Madrigal said.

Madrigal said the military will keep on monitoring terror threats in other areas in Mindanao as they validate reports and looking into other angles in the Cotabato bombing incident.

"We identify other areas and we will enhance (security) there. Of course we are also preventing (this kind of incident) in the areas of General Santos, Sultan Kudarat... We are looking into other angles on the incident, we cannot divulge for now but we'll get to know, of course PNP (Philippine National Police) is the lead ( agency) in the investigation," he said.

Madrigal urged the public to report any suspicious looking persons that will become peace "spoilers".

For his part, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. asked the public to not be discouraged in aspiring to achieve an enduring peace not just in Mindanao but in the whole country.

"This is an isolated case and our security forces are on top of the situation. Let’s trust that the perpetrators will be brought to justice and that acts like this will be stopped," Galvez said.

"Let us not allow this incident to discourage us to unite and act as one in our collective aspiration to achieve just and enduring peace not just in Mindanao, but in the whole country," he said.

Galvez encouraged everyone to not be "swayed" to spread speculations about the Cotabato bombing.

He extended his sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims. Ella Dionisio/DMS