Palawan cops appeal for tips on suspect in Taytay bombing

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 30): Palawan cops appeal for tips on suspect in Taytay bombing

Police authorities in Palawan on Thursday called on witnesses of the December 28 Taytay bombing to surface and help solve the incident.

Chief Insp. Ric Ramos, spokesperson of the Palawan Provincial Police Office (PPO) said witnesses, who might know who the suspect or suspects are, should cooperate with the Taytay Municipal Police (TMP) investigation to determine why the crime was perpetrated and who should be brought to justice.

“Witnesses who might know who the suspect is, or suspects are, should not be afraid to come forward and cooperate with us. Their statements are important so we can solve this incident,” Ramos said.

He furthered that if the witnesses want anonymity, they can rest assured that the TMP and the PPO would ensure their safety.

Based on initial findings, the improvised explosive device (IED) that was detonated in front of the bakery owned by Jerald Perje, 34, at Sitio Montevista, Poblacion, Taytay, was almost similar to those being used in illegal blast fishing.

Ramos said they are still investigating the reason behind the blast, and one of the theories they are looking into is personal grudge against the bakery owner.

On December 28 at around 1:20 a.m., a blast occurred along the National Highway of Sitio Montevista, Poblacion, Taytay.

Perje told police investigators he was sleeping when he was awakened by a loud blast that came from an IED that was placed outside his bakery. The incident resulted to still undetermined amount of damaged to property.

Luckily, according to Ramos, no one was injured in the blast. Investigation remains ongoing regarding the incident.

Taytay is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, an island of the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 70,837 people.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=951779