Tanada hits gov’t for failing to prevent Mindanao blasts despite ample intel fund

MANILA, Philippines – Former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada on Wednesday assailed Malacañang for failing to protect people of Mindanao from successive bombings despite its huge intelligence fund.

“Sa kabila ng P2.7 bilyong piso na pondo ng opisina ni Pangulong Duterte para sa ‘Oversight management on national security concerns’, nalusutan ng mga salarin ang mga may kapangyarihan at militar,” Tañada said in a statement.

(Despite the P2.7 billion intelligence fund under the office of President Duterte, the culprits managed to slip past the authorities.)

“May panibago na namang pagsabog sa Zamboanga, dalawa ang nasawi, tatlo ang sugatan.  Anuman ang motibo nito at sinuman ang may sala, hindi makatarungan ang pagkamatay at panganib na dulot nito sa buhay ng mga inosenteng mga mamamayan,” he added.

(There was another blast in Zamboanga, two died, three were wounded.  Whatever the motive is and whoever is behind it, the  death of innocent people and endangering the lives of the people are not justified.)

Tanada stressed that Filipinos should seek accountability from government officials.

Tañada was referring to the three explosions that rocked several areas in Mindanao in just a span of four days.

A day after the twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday morning which claimed 21 lives and left  dozens wounded, a policeman was killed after a land mine was set off near a police checkpoint in Magpet, North Cotabato.

On Wednesday morning, two people were killed while three others were wounded after a grenade was lobbed inside a mosque in Zamboanga City. /gsg

READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 20, with 111 others injured