By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — Investigations are still ongoing to determine the extent of the involvement of the Ajang-Ajang, a subgroup loosely affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf Group, in the twin explosions that killed 22 persons and wounded more than a hundred others in Jolo, Sulu last January 27.
This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato when sought for an update on the incident Thursday.
“Pursued pa rin ang involvement ng Ajang-Ajang subgroup ng ASG, kasi sila ang may pattern of atrocities sa lugar na yan (We are still pursuing the involvement of the Ajang-Ajang subgroup of the ASG because they are have a pattern of atrocities in that place),” he said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.
When asked if the angle of a suicide bombing is still being investigated, Detoyato said this is still strongly considered.
“Yung (The) angle ng (of a) suicide bomber as a method of delivery and execution, is also strongly considered. Whether there were foreigners involved in the execution, that is still being verified,” he added.
When sought to comment on the recovery of two sets of alleged body parts from the blast site, Detoyato said these consists of unclaimed human remains, which do not belong to one person.
“Unclaimed body parts, which by inspection (confirmed) not belong(ing) to only one person and by the way it was shredded into pieces, it was very close to the explosive,” the AFP public affairs office chief stressed.
Parts recovered include a head, hands, torso, feet, part of the back, scalp, jaw and hair.
Detoyato said the remains were recovered from the church entrance, walls and pews, road in front of the main entrance and its floor.
