AFP admits failure of intelligence 'in a way' in MSU blast

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday admitted that there was a failure in intelligence "in a way" in the deadly bomb attack in Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

“Kung titignan natin, kapag may nangyari, usually talagang hindi naman nahahagilap lahat,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

(If we look at it, if something happens, usually we cannot catch everything.)

“So in a way, parang yes, there is a failure. But whether meron po bang accountability iyong mga tao, iyon po ang iimbestigahan natin,” he added.

(So in a way, it seems yes, there is a failure. But whether the personnel have accountability over this, we will have to investigate.)

On Sunday, an explosion rocked the Dimaporo Gymnasium in MSU while a Mass was ongoing.

Police said four people were killed and six of the wounded are in stable condition at the hospital. Thirty-nine people hurt in the incident have already been discharged from the hospital.

No failure of intel

For his part, Senator Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa said Thursday that there might be no failure of intelligence in the bombing, but possibly a failure to appreciate the intelligence or failure to perform security preparations based on the intelligence.

“Parang lumalabas na there is no failure of intelligence kasi may mga naunang balita na patungkol dito. May mga banat sila na gagawin. Baka may failure to appreciate the intelligence or failure to perform security preparations based on the intelligence,” he said in an ambush interview.

(It seems that there is no failure of intelligence because there are previous reports about this. Maybe there is a failure to appreciate the intelligence or failure to perform security preparations based on the intelligence.)

“Kasi ‘pag binalewala mo ang intelligence report, wala nang gawin kaukulang actions, then sigurado na pagdating sa atake you will be defenseless. Hindi ka handa,” added Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police.

(If you ignore the intelligence report and there will be no corresponding actions, then you will be defenseless when it comes to attack. You are not ready.)

Dela Rosa said that these matters will be discussed during the Senate hearing on the deadly MSU blast, but said that there is no schedule yet for such.

“Most likely kasama ‘yan dahil nga lives have been lost diba. Isa ‘yan sa tutukuyin ng ating Senate hearing,” he added.

(Most likely that's included because lives have been lost, right? That is one of the things that will be discussed in our Senate hearing.)

The Senate on Wednesday conducted an executive session on the bombing where Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that he was "satisfied" with the response of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

On Monday, Dela Rosa raised the possibility of a failure of intelligence in the blast.

“Puwedeng may failure of intelligence dahil nga hindi na-monitor, ‘di ba? Kung na-monitor man nila, failure to act on the intelligence. No intelligence is still a failure of intelligence,” Dela Rosa said in an interview when asked if he sees any lapses on the security forces’ side.

(There may be a failure of intelligence because they were not able to monitor that there will be a bombing, right? If they were able to monitor it, there was still a failure to act on the intelligence.)

While failure of intelligence is a possibility, Dela Rosa said that it is “very unfair” if the security forces will be held accountable for something that is “below the radar.”

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., meanwhile, said that the military received intelligence information that there could be a possible retaliatory attack from the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) extremist group.

This was after some members of the group were killed in a military operation in Maguindanao del Sur last Friday.

Two alleged members of DI-Maute Group identified as Kadapi Mimbesa or “Engineer” and Arsani Membesa or “Khatab'' have been named as suspects in the explosion.

Mimbesa is a former MSU student who took up BS Agricultural Engineering. Alias Khatab, meanwhile, is wanted for murder.

According to Aguilar, the possible reconnection of the Maute group with foreign extremist group Islamic State should be investigated considering the latter earlier claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.

Heightened security in Metro Manila

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) held a meeting to discuss the possible heightening of security in the National Capital Region (NCR) following the deadly blast. 

“’Yung mga beat patrollers natin dapat nakikita, umiikot…Police visibility deterrent yan sa mga criminal,” said RPOC-NCR Chairperson Mayor Francis Zamora in Ian Cruz and Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report. 

(Our beat patrollers should be visible. Police visibility is a deterrent to crimes.)

“Syempre sa mga mamamayan, kapag may mga suspicious activity na makikita mag-report po kayo,” Zamora added. 

(We are urging the public to report if you observe suspicious activities.)

Meanwhile, the NCR Police Office (NCRPO) urged the public to stop sharing an e-mail allegedly warning of a bomb attack in Metro Manila. 

It also said additional security personnel were deployed in the capital region to ensure public safety for the Christmas season.

“If we look at the trend, it is not only being done here or sent here in the Philippines. But of course, we are taking it seriously. Why, what is the motive? Tinitignan natin,” said NCRPO Chief Police Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. 

(If we look at the trend, it is not only being done here or sent here in the Philippines. But of course, we are taking it seriously. We’ll look at why it is being sent and what is the motivation for it.) —Joviland Rita/ VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News