Jolo mayor believes at least 7 foreign terrorists still in Sulu - CNN Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 2) — Authorities are monitoring at least seven foreign terrorists in Patikul town in Sulu, the mayor of Jolo said Saturday.

Jolo Mayor Kherkar Tan confirmed this to CNN Philippines in the wake of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año's claim that two Indonesian suicide bombers were behind the twin blasts in a Jolo cathedral that left 22 people dead last January 27.

READ: Indonesian suicide bombers behind Jolo blasts – Año  

Tan did not confirm or deny Año's statement, saying investigation is ongoing. But he revealed that foreign terrorists, mostly Moroccan nationals, are staying in nearby Patikul, which is known as a lair of the Abu Sayyaf group.

"Kasi yung pagpasok ng Marawi hindi sila nakapasok na doon tapos nagpunta sila dito sa amin sa Patikul (They got here in Patikul after failing to enter Marawi)," Tan said. He was referring to the attack on Marawi, capital of Lanao del Sur in May 2017, conducted by local and foreign terrorists led by the ISIS-linked Maute terror group and Isnilon Hapilon, a former Abu Sayyaf leader who was the so-called "emir" of the ISIS in Southeast Asia.

Tan said the remaining foreign terrorists in Patikul are with Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the supposed successor of Hapilon.

Año on Friday told CNN Philippines local terrorists such as the Abu Sayyaf served as guide for the Indonesian couple who bombed the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral. He explained that the Indonesian couple aimed to set an example for other Filipino terrorists who do not usually conduct suicide attacks since these are "against our tradition and customs."

He also warned there are remaining foreign terrorists in the country capable of suicide bombings, but assured that government forces are "doing everything" to thwart any attack.

On Saturday, government forces engaged in a firefight with around 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters in Patikul in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to "destroy" the terror group.

READ: 5 soldiers killed in clash vs. Abu Sayyaf in Sulu  

Let's block ads! (Why?)

http://bit.ly/2SnomqL

February 02, 2019 at 02:10PM