ASG shies away from ‘martyrdom’

While they are dreaded for beheading their hostages and collecting ransom from families of their hostages, Abu Sayyaf terrorists are not brave enough to conduct suicide bombing like the recent attack in Lamitan City staged by a foreign jihadist.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the bomber, believed to be a Moroccan who was identified through photographs found in Jolo by government intelligence operatives, attempted to recruit suicide bombers among the ASG ranks in Basilan.

Apparently, no one joined him, thus he himself transported the improvised explosive device (IED) to Lamitan City where it exploded along a checkpoint last 31 July – killing 11 people, including the Moroccan.”

“We are certain that (the driver-bomber) is a Moroccan. According to the intelligence, they are 80 percent sure that he is the one in the picture found in Jolo where he is encircled and the word ‘martyr’ was written on it,” Lorenzana said.

As of now, authorities have yet to establish the name of the bomber and all they can confirm is that the suicide bomber was part of the ASG based in Jolo, Sulu and Basilan.

“He was trying to convince the local Abu Sayyaf in Basilan to conduct a suicide bombing, no one joined him. Luckily, no Filipino is brave enough to carry out a suicide bombing,” Lorenzana said.

“That time, maybe, it was a suicide bombing because he had no choice. He will get caught so he committed suicide,” he added.

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