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.

Source: Sunstar