PNP Chief Bato Says Foiled Bomb Attack In US Embassy A Diversionary Tactic
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela
Rosa said Monday that the foiled terror attack near the United States (US)
Embassy in Manila could be a diversionary tactic of the Maute terrorist group.
“Kung nalalaman ninyo, yung Maute group is now experiencing
casualties sa Lanao area, marami silang casualties. Pwede i-theorize na pwede
nila itong diversion para luluwagan [ang pag-atake sa kanila]. Pwede, ‘yan ang
isang theory ‘yan, which is closer to katotohanan,” Dela Rosa said.
Since Saturday, at least 19 members of the Maute group,
which align themselves to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), were
killed in a firefight with the military. The firefight started after they
occupied an abandoned municipal town hall in Butig town, Lanao del Sur.
Based on initial investigation, the improvised explosive
device (IED) found near the US Embassy in Manila was similar to the IED used in
the Davao bombing last September.
However, he said such information is still being verified.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
spokesperson Restituto Padilla said they are leaving the investigation to the
PNP.
He also agreed to Dela Rosa’s statement that the supposed
attack could be diversionary tactic.
“Kapag may mga ganitong kaganapan, tandaan n’yo po sa
Mindanao under pressure and on the run po ang ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), at itong
Maute brothers ay gumagawa ng kasalukuyang panggugulo diyan. Muli nilang
inokupa ‘yung kanilang haven o ‘yung kanilang stronghold,” he said.
At around 7 a.m. Monday, street sweeper Ely Garcia said she
found a cellular phone with black and red wires connected to a black circular
object covered by electrical and packaging tape in a trash can along the
boulevard the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard, which is meters away from the
US embassy.
Manila Police District bomb squad immediately responded and
detonated the IED.
PNP Chief Bato Says Foiled Bomb Attack In US Embassy A Diversionary Tactic
Reviewed by Yen
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November 30, 2016
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