Philippines defense chief Teodoro on deadly bomb attack on Catholic faithful in Marawi

(3 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Manila - 3 December 2023
1. Various of news conference with Philippine security officials on bombing incident, Philippine Department of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr speaking
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr, Philippine Secretary of National Defense:
"Our law enforcement operations on both sides (police and army) will continue unabated and in accordance with the President's (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) statement we shall leave no stones unturned in order to root out the perpetrators of this heinous crime."
3. Video journalists, pan right to officials
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr, Philippine Secretary of National Defense:
"Let us remember that this was done in a religious occasion in Marawi and the intent really to foment terrorist activity, to foment confusion, chaos, is a prime initia of a terrorist activity."
5. Security officials listening to reporter's question
6. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog/English) General Romeo Brawner, Chief of Philippines Armed Forces:
"Because of our continuous operation against the terrorist groups in the whole area of western Mindanao, Maguindanao, Lanao and in Basilan, it is possible that what happened this morning is a retaliatory attack. That is one angle that we are looking in to."
7. Department of National Defense sign
STORYLINE:
Philippines' defense chief said Sunday that they would "leave no stones unturned" in finding the perpetrators of an explosion that killed four people at a Catholic Mass.

The powerful explosion believed to be caused by a bomb also wounded dozens of others Sunday in a predominantly Muslim city of Marawi in southern Philippines, officials said.

"Let us remember that this was done in a religious occasion in Marawi and the intent really to foment terrorist activity, to foment confusion, chaos, is a prime initia of a terrorist activity," said Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.

The morning Mass was underway in a gymnasium at the state-run Mindanao State University in Marawi city when the explosion happened, causing panic among dozens of students and teachers and leaving the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground, said Taha Mandangan, the security chief of the state-run campus.

At least two of the wounded were fighting for their lives, Mandangan said.

Regional military commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said at least four people were killed by the explosion, including three women, and 50 others were brought to two hospitals for treatment of mostly minor injuries.

Only two of those killed had been identified, officials said.

Army troops and police immediately cordoned off the area and were conducting an initial investigation and checking security cameras for any indication of who may have been responsible for the attack. Security checkpoints were set up around the city.

The deadly blast set off a security alarm beyond Marawi city as the Christmas season ushered in a period of travel, shopping sprees and traffic jams across the country.

The Philippine coast guard said it ordered all its personnel to intensify intelligence gathering, stricter inspections of passenger ferries and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and sea marshals following the suspected bomb attack.
AP Video shot by Joeal Calupitan

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