FILE PHOTO: Authorities secure the gymnasium of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City on Sunday, December 2, 2023, shortly after it was turned into a bloody crime scene. The university issued a statement condemning the attack, noting how it was carried out on a campus and targeted a religious ceremony attended by students, a first in MSU’s history. —Lanao Del Sur Provincial Government/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — The fatal bombing inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) could have been forestalled had there been police and armed forces officials inside the campus, Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro said on Friday.
Teodoro, in a televised interview, downplayed the “failure of intelligence” allegations surrounding the deadly blast.
“I hope [for] some corrective measures if there were lapses on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Naturally, we will take corrective action and we will be more vigilant and aggressive in monitoring extremism and terrorism. However, I can confidently say that it is not a failure of intelligence on the part of either the Philippine National Police or the AFP,” said Teodoro in an interview over ANC.
According to the defense chief, MSU has a charter like the University of the Philippines. Hence, the police and the armed forces can only enter the vicinity of the campus upon request of its officials.
“There was a failure to appreciate intelligence. It is safe for me to say, had there been police or armed forces people inside the MSU compound, then appropriate measures could have been done,” said Teodoro.
“They have their own security forces in there and so this is something that the appropriate agencies must look into,” he added later.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa earlier floated the possibility of failure of intelligence in the deadly MSU bombing, but he later retracted his statement after top security executives briefed senators on the incident.
“Parang lumalabas na there’s no failure of intelligence. Baka may failure to appreciate intelligence. Kasi kapag binalewala mo ‘yung intelligence report, walang kang gagawing kaukulang actions then sigurado na pagdating sa atake you’ll be defenseless,” said dela Rosa then.
(It seems that there’s no failure of intelligence. Maybe there is a failure to appreciate intelligence. Because if you ignore the intelligence report, you won’t take any appropriate actions, then it’s sure that you’ll be defenseless when it comes to attack.)
Four people died while 50 others were injured in a bomb that ripped through the Dimaporo Gym inside the MSU in Marawi City early Sunday, December 3.