THE results of a DNA test confirmed that one of the suicide bombers who attacked an army camp in Indanan, Sulu was a Filipino, a military official said Tuesday.
Western Mindanao Command commander Major General Cirilito Sobejana said the DNA sample taken from a severed head recovered after the explosion matched the DNA of Vilma, a Tausug who earlier claimed to be the mother of one of the suspects.
Vilma identified the severed head as that of her son, 23-year-old Norman Lasuca, whom she had not seen in five years.
Lasuca was the first Filipino who was reported to have carried out a suicide bombing. He was responsible for the first blast on June 28 which also resulted in the killing of three soldiers.
Sobejana said they were still confirming whether Lasuca detonated the bomb he was carrying or another person had remotely detonated the explosive.
The DNA examination was conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory.
Lasuca's bomb went off while he was undergoing inspection at the gate to the military camp in Indanan on June 28, 2019.
Another attacker, described as having Caucasian features, managed to dash a few meters into the camp before his explosive went off.
The bombing killed eight, including the two assailants. (SunStar Philippines)