After recent bombings, Lacson urges AFP to intensify intel operations
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should strengthen its intelligence operations to thwart violent acts such as bombings from happening, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson made the statement in the wake of the recent grenade attack inside a mosque in Zamboanga City and the twin bomb attacks on the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu.
“I always maintain intelligence is the prime mover of all operations on the ground. Kasi pag nag-fail ang intelligence parang bulag ang mga sundalo at pulis natin kung sino hahabulin o kung ano ipeprevent,” Lacson told reporters in an interview.
“Yan ang pinaka-basic. They (AFP) should strengthen their intelligence capabilities especially on the ground para ma-preempt ang mga bombing na ganyan,” he added.
He said that it was the lapses in intelligence operations which ultimately led to two recent bombings.
“Sa tingin ko (doon nagkulang). It’s a function of intelligence. At ang processing. May prior information na magkakaroon ng bombing. But anong ginawang action ng dapat mag-implement ng product ng intelligence? Dapat kumpleto,” the senator said.
Two persons were killed and three others were wounded when a grenade exploded inside a Mahardika mosque in Barangay Talon-talon, Zamboanga City, early morning Wednesday.
READ: 2 dead, 3 hurt in Zamboanga mosque grenade blast
Meanwhile, the twin bomb attacks that rocked the Our Lady of M. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Jan. 27 left at least 21 dead and scores others hurt.
READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 20, with 111 others injured
AFP chief of staff Benjamin Madrigal said the military has conducted appropriate operations on receiving information of possible bombings, pointing out that they were able to neutralize an expert in the making of improvised explosive devices (IED).
“When we got the information, nagkaroon ng operation. In fact, na-neutralize ‘yung kanilang IED expert in one of those operations,” Madrigal told reporters in an interview.
He assured the military is closely monitoring areas said to be targets of bombings.
“Ang ginagawa natin, because of the continued threat, talagang binabantayan natin yung mga identified areas na binanggit na target nitong bombing nito,” Madrigal said.
He added that cooperation and vigilance of other sectors should be intensified to address violent threats to the country.
“Siguro kailangan pa natin paigtingin yung kooperasyon at yung vigilance also by the other sectors especially our populace para makapagbigay agad at maaddress agad itong mga bagay na ito,” the AFP chief of staff said. /muf
