PNP chief sacks Sultan Kudarat top cops over bombings

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of Senior Supt. Noel Kinazo, Sultan Kudarat police director, and Supt. Celestino Daniel Jr., Isulan police chief, following the blast Sunday night that killed two people.

Albayalde, in Brunei for the ASEANAPOL Conference, has also directed police units in SOCCSKSARGEN to intensify the conduct of checkpoints, police visibility patrols and focused intelligence and law enforcement, in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), said combined troops of the AFP and the PNP placed an overnight lockdown on Isulan and are conducting zoning operations to arrest the perpetrators and clear the area of the effects of the explosion, the second in less than a week in the provincial capital.

The military official attributed the bombing to a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) under Esmael Abdulmalik alias Abu Toraife/Toraype, known to be an influential cleric and skilled bomb expert.

“Terrorism is a global issue. Even the most advanced and developed countries have similar incidents. But security is not the sole responsibility of (government) forces, that is why we are asking the support and vigilance of each and every one,” he said.

The fatalities were Jan Mark Luda, 19, who died while being rushed to hospital, and his 15-year-old cousin Marialyn Luda, who succumbed to multiple shrapnel wounds past 10 a.m. yesterday.

Eleven of the wounded are being treated at Isulan hospitals while the four in critical condition have been brought to the General Santos Doctors Hospital. 

Fake news

Durana, meanwhile, labeled as fake news the reports insinuating that the two successive blasts in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat were meant to support the extension of martial law.

Durana said people behind the spread of fake news were apparently not concerned with the good of the country.

“It’s fake news. Even to accuse the government of having a hand in these attacks, that’s farthest from the truth,” he said.

“We are here to serve and protect and prevent crime, ensure public safety and security of the people,” he noted.

Senators maintained their position that extending martial law in Mindanao is not the solution to stop the bombings.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson renewed his call for authorities to improve their intelligence gathering instead.

“I think the better solution is for our ground forces, especially our intelligence units, to really stick their nose on information, keep their ears on the ground and intensify intelligence operations,” he told reporters. – With John Unson, Michael Punongbayan, Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Roel Pareño

Related video: