PNP supports recommendation to subject Sulu to Martial Law

PNP Chief PGen. Archie Francisco Gamboa supports the recommendation of Phil Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana to subject Sulu province to Martial Law, following a twin explosion in Jolo on Monday.

Gamboa said the move would provide “operational flexibility” to the police and military to conduct law enforcement operations against “threat groups” in the province, especially Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

So far, Sobejana has not been able to submit his recommendation, he said he will first consult with their legal department before submitting his recommendation to AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to be delivered to President Duterte.

On the other hand, the PNP is now studying the signature of the IED used in the two consecutive explosions that took place in Jolo to identify the group responsible for the incident.

Gamboa is also mobilizing the Philippine Bomb Data Center (PBDC) and Crime Laboratory to provide technical support to the ongoing investigation into the twin explosions.

Gamboa said PBDC has a database of various types of explosives used in past incidents.

Once the bomb signature is determined based on the reconstruction of forensic evidence, it can be compared to the database to find out who made the bomb.

The military had earlier announced that the Abu Sayyaf was their prime suspect in the bombing.