THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) gave its
commitment to help authorities solve the July 26 bomb explosion in the city,
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said Wednesday.
MILF peace panel member Robert Alonto met with Moreno
in a visit Tuesday, lifting any cloud of doubt the group has a hand in the bomb
blast that killed eight persons and injured 46.
Aside from holding an important position in the MILF,
Alonto is also a Bangsamoro Transition Commissioner.
Senate inquiry
In a text message to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, City
Information Officer Maricel Rivera said Alonto has relayed to Moreno
“Sometimes tragedy can change the character of a person.
This (incident) will change the character of the people of Cagayan de Oro,” Moreno
During the inquiry, Department of Interior and Local
Government Sec. Mar Roxas has made it clear that the Cagayan de Oro and
Cotabato incidents are not in any way linked.
Roxas also concluded that the July 26 blast was designed to
kill and maim since it was detonated in a crowded place during “happy hour.”
Lone identified suspect charged
The city police office have informed the senate inquiry body
that they have already filed charges against lone identified suspect Usman
Hapids at the city prosecutor’s office Tuesday.
Cagayan de Oro City Police Office Chief Graciano Mijares
said Hapids is now facing multiple murder and frustrated murder charges.
City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said Usman Hapids, a
suspected member of the Thalifa Islamiah Mindanao, is responsible for the
incident.
Reports said Thalifa Islamiah Mindanao is a terrorist group
based in Mindanao .
Macauyag said there are seven complainants and seven
witnesses who identified Hapids as the suspect.
“Based on the records and evidence submitted to me, if not
controverted, I would say these are enough to indict the suspect,” he said.
Macauyag said he created a panel of three prosecutors to
handle the case and will hold a clarificatory hearing on August 20. At this
hearing, the complainants and witnesses will appear to clarify the complaint.
“Few days after, they might get a resolution because the
respondents cannot locate the suspect. Our target is to come up with the
resolution before the fiesta celebration in Cagayan de Oro. This must be
hastened since this case involves public interest,” he added.
Macauyag said they will be the one to determine the charges,
“but in our initial evaluation, all the evidences are enough…if we find the
probable cause.”
Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao Regional Director
Lyndel Desquitado said they have intensified the security blanket in Northern Mindanao . Even during the city’s fiesta
celebration in August 27-28, “is part of the security plan.”
He said they have heightened security measures not only in
Cagayan de Oro but in whole of Northern Mindanao .
“We are positive, very positive (in due time the bombing
will be solved),” he added.
Augment police capacity, resources
For his part, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said there should
be a need to augment the capacity and resources of the police to solve
incidents like these.
“Justice can only be achieved if we solve this crime. If
nobody gets caught, nobody gets punished,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel also questioned the intelligence-gathering capability
of the law enforcement agencies. “Is it excusable that something this big is
not detected by the intelligence community?”
Sen. Gregorio Honasan said that these incidents are nothing
new. “Paulit-uli na ito. Nagbago lang ang petsa (This has been recurring time
and again. Only the date has changed.)”
Honasan said there is a need to strengthen the laws and to
do an inventory of laws in connection with the bombings and similar acts.
He cited a 2008 legislation that would charge a person for
unauthorized possession of explosives.
In a statement, Poe said the bombing will affect the
investor confidence in Cagayan de Oro and that “we should not take this bombing
lightly.”
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