MANILA — There is still no sufficient evidence to prove that the van blast, which killed 11 persons and wounded seven others in Lamitan City, Basilan, was committed by a so-called a lone-wolf attacker, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said Tuesday.
“Yun nga kinaklaro natin kanina at sinasabi natin wala tayong sufficient na basehan para sabihin natin na ito ay ‘lone wolf attack’ or isang‘suicide bomb attempt’ ng isang foreigner or hindi kasi lahat ng nagkaroon ng contact dun sa checkpoint ay namatay kasama mismo (ang) nag-iisang pasahero na nagmamaneho ng van (We are clarifying and saying that we do not have sufficient basis to say that it is a ‘lone wolf attack’ or a ‘suicide bomb attempt’ of a foreigner because not everyone who had contact with the checkpoint died, including the driver of the van),” Arevalo added.
Also, Arevalo said they are still determining the identity of the van’s driver as of this time.
The AFP spokesperson added authorities will not stop in tracking down and neutralizing terrorists headed by Abu Sayyaf Group leader Furuji Indama who was believed to be involved in the attack.
The explosion took place 5:50 a.m. near Magwakit Detachment in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City.
Reports indicated that troops in the area intercepted a white van containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Inspection were ongoing when the vehicle exploded killing one soldier, five CAFGUs and four civilians, including the driver who was believed to be the suspect. Also wounded were one CAFGU and six members of the 9th Scout Ranger Company.
The attack was in response to the growing number of ASG terrorists voluntarily surrendering to government forces and causing the bandit group to lose ground in Basilan. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
