DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted on Tuesday that there were lapses in security amid intelligence reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as early as August 2018 that Catholic Churches in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga would be bombed.

In a text message to reporters, Lorenzana said that based on these reports, Jolo was the “most probable” target, prompting the military to increase security at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral 24/7.