Reports That Guns Used In Indonesia Terror Attack Came From Phl Have To Be Verified, Says Palace Official

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Tuesday said there is a need to verify the information that the weapons used during the recent terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia came from the Philippines.

Reports quoted Indonesian Police Spokesperson Anton Charliyan as saying that the guns were likely to have come from the Philippines based on information gathered from those arrested after the attack that killed eight people on Thursday.

Secretary Coloma said there is a regular exchange of information among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“Hinihintay pa natin ang impormasyon galing sa ating security cluster at mga security forces. Meron namang regular na palitan ng impormasyon ang mga bansa ng ASEAN, lalo’t lalo na sa pagitan ng Pilipinas, Indonesia at Malaysia. Masinsin ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating mga security forces sa mga counterparts hinggil diyan. Kaya’t mas mainam na hintayin muna natin kung mayroon talagang beripikasyon ‘yan para hindi tayo gumagawa ng puro espekulasyon lamang,” he said during a press briefing at the Palace.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are still awaiting a formal report from their Indonesian counterparts.

National Police Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said they will start checking once they receive the report. PND (jm)