(Eagle News) — The Sulu police on Friday, Feb. 1, said at least two people may be behind the Jolo, Sulu blasts that killed at least 22 people.
According to Senior Supt. Pablo Labra, Sulu provincial police director, based on testimonies from witnesses, a woman wearing a gray jacket with a hood and who appeared to be carrying a bag that was hidden in her jacket, entered the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral prior to the blasts.
He said witnesses told the police, the woman, who was 5’2″ to 5’3″, sat and stayed on in the cathedral until the first blast took place.
According to Labra, there were also testimonies of a man in the vicinity of the cathedral who may have brought the woman to the site prior to the explosions.
“Sa mga reports at sa mga nakuha natin na ito’y tagagawa ng suicide bombers, consistent dun sa mga nakita na mga body parts (sa blasts site),” Labra said in a nationally televised press conference.
Labra was referring to what he said was a pair of feet apparently belonging to a female, and another pair of feet apparently belonging to a male found at the blasts site and which have remained unclaimed.
He said the body parts were undergoing forensics examinations.
“Ang sa amin nalang dito is mag-imbestiga lalo,” Labra said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said a Yemeni couple was behind the explosions, which also hurt several others.
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde on Thursday, Jan. 31, said that while the police were considering alias “Kamah” of the Ajang-Ajang, Abu Sayyaf group as a suspect in the bombings, they were also looking at other information provided to them.