First Filipino suicide bombing incident worries Malacañang

Norman Lasuca. Photo from Armed Forces of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang was disturbed with the confirmation that one of the two alleged suicide bombers at a military camp blast in Indanan, Sulu last June 28 was a Filipino.

In a Palace briefing Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said suicide bombing goes against the “character of Filipinos” as authorities identified the first ever Filipino suicide bomber.

“It’s a cause for concern, given that this is the first time that there is a Filipino suicide bomber. It goes against the grain of the character of Filipinos. ‘Yung mag suicide ka para sa terrorism,” he said.

In a joint press conference of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, police spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said the DNA sample of suspected suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, said to be in his 20s, matched that of his mother’s, Vilman Lasuca.

READ: Confirmed: One of two ‘suicide bombers’ in Sulu blasts a Filipino

Banac also said they are still verifying if it was Lasuca himself who detonated the bomb that exploded in the Army camp.

Panelo said the country’s problem with terrorism was “enhanced” with the report of the first Filipino suicide bomber.

“Dati naman tayong may terrorism problem, kaya lang na enhance because of that. Ganun na pala ka-tapang ang Pilipino papatayin ang sarili niya to advance the advocacy of terrorists,” he said.

Earlier, President Duterte warned of “dangerous times ahead” as he urged the government to continue its effort to boost police and military capabilities against terrorism.

“I see very dangerous times ahead. And I hope that we will be able to contain whatever there is really to… My hands sweat just thinking about [what would happen] if it would go awry outside of Sulu and Basilan Islands,” the President, speaking partly in Filipino, said. /je

READ: Duterte: ‘I see very dangerous times ahead’