PNP admits gaps in securing Sultan Kudarat after first bombing

PNP Spokesperson Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. INQUIRER.net file photo

The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted on Monday that there were gaps in securing the vicinity of Sultan Kudarat after the first bombing incident that happened last week.

PNP Spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana also said that the PNP has realigned its personnel in the province in order to probe the incident.

“Obviously there were gaps in the security measures or systems that was in place, especially right after the declaration of martial law, and especially right after the first bombing last August 28,” Durana said in a press briefing.

“That’s why the leadership of PRO-12, talagang they decided that we need to change players to give way for an impartial investigation at makita natin (to see) why there were gaps that are still there,” Durana added.

Durana also said that the PNP is not discounting the reports that more improvised explosive devices are planted around the area.

“Those are reports, those are possibilities. Alam mo naman in any terror attacks, meron lagi ‘yang (You know in any terror attack, there’s always a) secondary device, that’s why we need to double, if not triple, our efforts to install countermeasures to prevent these kind incidents from happening,” Durana said.

Durana, however admitted that the PNP could not look at “every inch of Mindanao” in order to ensure the safety of the public.

With this, he appealed to the public to report to local authorities any suspicious act and urged them to be vigilant of their surroundings.

“Ipagbigay alam agad sa ating mga kapulisan at sa ating mga awtoridad para madali natin malutas ang krimen na ito (Notify the police and authorities immediately to quickly solve the crime)  and at the same time, arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” Durana said.

The province of Sultan Kudarat was bombed twice within just a week. The two bombing incidents have already killed five individuals. /je

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