Palace: We’ll run after these terrorists until they can run no more

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Palace on Saturday condemned Friday’s explosion that killed five people, including three soldiers, in the vicinity of a military camp in Indanan, Sulu.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said authorities are eyeing Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as behind the bombing.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the explosion that occurred in a military base in Sulu, which killed and wounded scores of people,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Authorities are eyeing the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group behind this dastardly attack,” he added.

Citing the Marawi siege, Panelo said the government “will pursue them and all other terrorist groups that sow and instill fear among our people.”

“We will run after them until they can run no more. The government will harness all its might to destroy the enemies of the state as well as their supporters to secure lasting peace in the region,” Panelo said.

“If these bandits have not learned from the terrorists who were annihilated in Marawi, then this time they will,” he added.

Police Colonel Pablo Labra, provincial director of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, said the explosion killed three soldiers from the 1st Battalion Combat Team with ranks of private first class and corporal.

Two others — the suspected bomber and an unidentified civilian — were also killed while 11 others sustained injuries. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

READ: 5 people, including 3 soldiers, killed in Sulu blast