PNP intensifying intel drive to track local suicide bombers

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up its intelligence gathering in a bid to detect and stop local suicide bombers amid suspicion that one of the two bombers at a military camp in Indanan, Sulu was a Filipino.

A Filipina earlier told authorities that Norman Lasuca, one of the supposed bombers, is her 23-year-old son.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, however, said a DNA must be conducted to verify the woman’s claim.

READ: One of two Sulu suicide bombers a Filipino

“We have to have a good intelligence. That’s very important. We have to step up our intelligence gathering here,” Albayalde told CNN Philippines.

It will be the first time that a Filipino perpetrated a suicide bombing if the DNA test proves the suspect is the woman’s son.

If it is confirmed that one of the Sulu bombers is a Filipino, Albayalde said having Filipinos as suicide bombers “will change the playing field” in the effort of state forces to combat terrorism.

He said authorities will also look at how and where the suspect, if he is Filipino, was radicalized to initiate a suicide attack.

Aside from intelligence gathering, Albayalde said the cooperation of the community and education are also important to deter suicide bombings carried out by locals.  (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)