ZAMBOANGA CITY –– The military has said that two local women who are widows of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu carried out the twin bombings in downtown Jolo on Monday, Aug. 24.
Major General Corleto Vinluan, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the first bomber was identified as a certain Nanah, a native of Basilan, and widow of Norman Lasuca.
Lasuca was the first local suicide bomber who blasted himself inside an Army detachment in Indanan, Sulu in June last year.
The second bomber, according to Vinluan, is identified as Indah Nay, wife of Abu Sayyaf fighter Taha Jumsa, alias Abu Taha, or Abu Talha. Jumsa was killed in a military operation in November last year.
Apart from serving as a liaison of local affiliates to the Islamic State leadership, Jumsa also trained bomb-makers and suicide bombers.
The recent twin bombings in Jolo killed 14 people and wounded 75 others.