PNP searching for daughter of suicide bombers

February 20, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking for the daughter of the suicide bombers who attacked the Jolo cathedral believed to have been left under the care of the Abu Sayyaf.

Initial results of the DNA test on the two pairs of severed feet recovered at the site did not match any of the 23 civilian and military fatalities.

PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said the girl as she could be the key in identifying the suicide bombers, believed to be Indonesians.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, citing sources, said the couple left a daughter, believed 10-years-old with the Abu Sayyaf and their supporters, three days before they blew themselves up at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral on Jan. 27.

Albayalde said the DNA test on the pairs of feet show they came from a man and woman.  A portion of a skull found inside the cathedral  matched with the feet from the woman.

“Our analysis here is that there are two unidentified people,”Albayalde said.

Police officers from Indonesia arrived about two weeks ago, said Albayalde, and helped the PNP's investigation.

These lawmen, some of whom investigated the (2002) bombings in Bali, could help identify the couple. DMS