The deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command
(EastMinCom) has identified a commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighter (BIFF) as behind the bombing of the Rural Transit bus in Maramag,
Bukidnon on Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Alexander Balutan, deputy commander of the
EastMinCom, identified the suspect as one Garnet Lintang, a commander of the
BIFF operating in Central Mindanao .
According to Balutan, BIFF was conducting a test mission for
their new graduates.
The BIFF was the group linked to the international terrorist
called Islamic state of Iraq
and Syria or ISIS even pledging support to the terrorist group.
The bombing incident has claimed the lives of 11 people
mostly students, two of whom died later in a hospital. The passenger bus owned
by the Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI) left Wao in Lanao Del Sur, about
3:00 p.m. Tuesday en route to Cagayan De Oro City. The bus made a stop over to
pick up passengers in front of the Central
Mindanao University
Balutan disclosed that forensic investigation showed the
perpetrators used an 81mm mortar which was detonated with the use of a mobile
phone.
As this developed, Balutan said they are filing multiple
murder charges against Lintang while a hot pursuit operation is ongoing.
Balutan identified nine fatalities as Ken Valiente, Anita
Santillan, Catherine Villahermosa, John Rey Valdesco, John Bernard Cunahap,
Jonathan Balida, Mariel Pachacoso, Michelle Gonzaga, Michael Buctos, and one
still unidentified.
Meanwhile, police and the military in Davao Region remain
under heightened alert following the bombing incident. They are also fielding
bus marshals to prevent bus bombings.
Speaking at the AFP/PNP press corps at Mandaya Hotel, Davao
City Police Office (DCPO) Director P/Sr. Supt.Vicente Danao Jr., said police
visiblity is being maximized, specifically in areas where there is convergence
of people.
Danao said there are about 60 personnel from the Regional
Public Safety Battalion that were sent to the DCPO to augment the present number
of policemen in the city.
The AFP and the PNP are now asking the people of Davao City
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=714895
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