MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde admitted that there was a security lapse at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, leading to the twin bombings at the church over the weekend.
The police chief confirmed that there was no frisking among churchgoers despite previous threats to the church, which have been present for the past five years.
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"Probably because over the years, nothing happened. There were no incidents because most of the incidents that transpired. In the previous were only like throwing grenades on the streets that's why that street was always closed," Albayalde told CNN Philippines' "The Source."
This might have been the reason why the Armed Forces of the Philippines became "relaxed" as there were no previous incidents related to the threat.
Albayalde added that the military used to have a desk before the door of the church for inspecting churchgoers.
The PNP is also not yet discounting the possibility of suicide bombing in Jolo as churchgoers might have been suspicious of perpetrator leaving a bag of explosives in the church.
"Most of the churchgoers there, they know each other so how can you put down a big amount of substance of explosives inside, leaving it there without being noticed?" Albayalde said.
The police chief also confirmed that at least two kilograms of improvised explosive device were used at the Jolo cathedral.
"They used a container. That's what our (explosive ordnance disposal and canine group) found out. They used a thick sheet that served as a shrapnel already," he said.
Malacañang earlier said that security lapses may have been committed on the day of the Jolo cathedral bombing that left more than 20 persons dead and dozens others injured.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said there was "no ther reasonable conclusion."
"There may be some lapses in security, how they were able to put there that motorcycle with a bomb despite the fact that there were soldiers securing the place," Panelo said.
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