Police closing in on suspect in bombing of van, cop says

From the Mindanao Times (Nov 24): Police closing in on suspect in bombing of van, cop says

THE SPECIAL Investigation Task Force “UV Express” has already tracked the general location of the main suspect in the bombing of a commuter van along Ecowest Drive in Ecoland.

“We cannot tell his exact location although we have already the information,” said Chief Insp. Milgrace C. Driz, a member of the task group, said. ”He’s only traveling the Pikit to Davao route.”

She said police are set to file a case against the suspect for serious physical injury and violation to the Anti-Terror Law.

The task force already submitted the investigation report to the Police Regional Office including the post-blast results, composite sketch, affidavits of the van owner, driver and conductor.

“We are already focused on some personalities but we could not divulge their names,” she said.

The task force released on Wednesday a facial composite of the suspect in a passenger van explosion.

The suspect was described to be around 35-40 years old, 5’1” to 5’2” in height, medium built, with white complexion and was wearing a black t-shirt, bull cap and denim pants.

Accordingly, the suspect was one of the three passengers left who disembarked from the van in front of the SM Ecoland and picked up by another man on a motorcycle.

Still eyes extortion personal vendetta

Although the task force released the facial composite of the alleged suspect their investigation is still eyed on the extortion and personal grudge as the possible motive.

Investigators believed the explosion that rocked a passenger van on Wednesday was connected to the killing of a driver of another van as both vehicles belonged to the same owner.

This developed as the Task Force UV Express also assured the public that there’s no terror group operating in the city.

Driz earlier said that Jonas Guerrero, son of van owner Gregorio Guerrero, had claimed that one of their drivers was killed in Pikit, North Cotabato in connection to the extortion demand they have been receiving.

“They have around 30 units that ply the Cotabato to Davao route,” she said.

Driz said they already have the identity of the group behind the extortion.

On personal grudge, Driz said they received information that some drivers of legal terminals (which counts the SM City parking lot among them) have reported to the City Mayor’s Office about the proliferation of illegal terminals in the city.

http://mindanaotimes.net/police-closing-in-on-suspect-in-bombing-of-van-cop-says/