By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Short of saying that there was failure in intelligence, Lanao del Sur First District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Tuesday said there is an urgent need to evaluate the use of intelligence funds in the wake of the bombing that hit Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City which killed at least 4 people and injured 50 others.
It can be noted that security officials earlier said that the attack might have been a retaliatory strike for a series of military operations against extremist groups in recent days.
“I think this is the perfect time for the country to really revisit what are the things that are being done by using these intelligence funds because ultimately this is going to happen again,” Adiong said in an interview with ANC’s “Headstart.”
The lawmaker added that he received reports that authorities identified two persons of interest that could be responsible for the blast.
“We have to fortify not only within the area, but we also need to collaborate further and intensify our intelligence,” Adiong stressed.
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
To recall, the pro-IS Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists — including foreign and local fighters — held Marawi under siege in 2017.
The Philippine military recovered the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
“There are strong indications of a foreign element (in Sunday’s attack),” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told media practitioners.
(ai/mnm)
