DNA test confirms suicide bomber in Sulu a woman

MANILA, Philippines–A DNA test has confirmed that the suicide bomber in the September 8 explosion at a military detachment in Indanan, Sulu is a woman, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed Tuesday.

“Ang nakuha natin is partial DNA [female] profile so ‘yun ang nagiging basehan natin para sabihin na babae talaga siya… Ang masisiguro lang po natin ay talagang babae ‘yun and also the eyewitnesses has helped us go to that conclusion na babae ‘yung involved sa bombing,” Lt. Col. Kimberly Molitas, PNP deputy spokesperson, said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

(We got a partial DNA female profile so that is the basis why we can say that the bomber was a woman… What we can assure now is that she was really a woman and eyewitnesses also helped us arrive to that conclusion.)

READ: Remains of suicide bomber in Sulu up for DNA tests

Molitas, however, said that the PNP cannot conclude yet whether the bomber is a foreigner or a local without a reference standard where the DNA samples can be compared.

“Nonetheless, the findings bolster earlier eyewitnesses’ accounts that a female suspect detonated the explosive device,” she said.

Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo earlier said that the suicide bomber was a woman based on the appearance of other body parts at the crime scene, but said a DNA test is still needed to confirm this information.

The military have identified Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan as the brains behind the suicide bombing, which happened outside a military detachment in Indanan, Sulu.

The Caucasian-looking bomber, who wore an abaya, an outer garment worn by Muslim women, was about to enter the military detachment but was immediately stopped by security forces and failed to inflict heavy damage. /jpv