AFP: 7 foreign terrorists in Sulu, Maguindanao, Basilan training suicide bombers
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) reported there are seven foreign terrorists training suicide bombers in the provinces of Sulu, Maguindanao, and Basilan.
AFP Wesmincom Chief LtGen. Cirilito Sobejana said the foreign terrorists of unverified nationalities are "embedded" with local terror groups affiliated with the internationally infamous Islamic State group such as the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
"Naggu-groom sila ng maging [They are grooming those who will become] suicide bomber as manifested nitong nangyari [by what happened] lately," Sobejana told defense reporters.
The most recent incident of suicide blasts was the June bombings near a Sulu military camp, which left eight dead. One of the suicide bombers was confirmed by the police and military to be a Filipino.
READ: 8 dead in suspected suicide bombing at Sulu military camp
The Wesmincom leader added the terrorists are being trained on "other terroristic actions," but he did not elaborate on this.
Another 42 people are on the military's watchlist, but Sobejana said there they are still validating whether they can be considered as foreign terrorists.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called the Sulu military camp attack an "act of suicide bombing." Two similar incidents in Mindanao in the past were also likely to be suicide blasts: the Lamitan, Basilan car bomb attack in July 2018, and the bombing of a Catholic church in Jolo in January.
