MSU Marawi blast due to ‘failure to appreciate intelligence’

Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday revealed that the bombing in an incident during a Catholic Mass at a gymnasium inside Mindanao State University in Marawi City was allegedly due to the authorities' "failure to appreciate intelligence" reports.

However, Teodoro stressed that there was no failure of intelligence on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

"In terms of the monicker of failure of intelligence, I'd like to echo Senator Dela Rosa's statement after we briefed him that there was a failure to appreciate intelligence," Teodoro said in a television interview.

"And it is safe for me to say that had there been police or Armed Forces people inside the MSU compound, then appropriate security measures would have been done that would have forestalled this incident," he added.

Likening it to the University of the Philippines campuses, Teodoro cited the fact that the MSU-Marawi "has its own security force" and cited that the AFP and PNP personnel cannot enter the campus premises "without their request or unless they have prior consent."

"I think this is something that appropriate authorities m must look into," said Teodoro, adding that the incident occurred after a series of military operations against the Dawlah Islamiyyah-Maute group and Sulu's Abu Sayyaf Group.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has also gone against the elements of the Maute group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Amid the reported activities of these rebel groups, Teodoro said the security sector has been vigilant in tracking down their terroristic activities.