Probers pursuing ‘good lead’ in GenSan blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 17): Probers pursuing ‘good lead’ in GenSan blast

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Authorities said they already have a “good lead” in the ongoing investigation into the bomb explosion before noon on Sunday near a lying-in clinic here that left eight persons wounded.
Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, city police director, said Monday investigators are currently establishing the motive and the identities of the suspects, who planted the improvised explosive device (IED) in front of the Vic Bonita Lying-in Clinic in Makar junction.

Supiter was unable to disclose further details, saying this might disrupt the ongoing investigation of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Bonita.”

“We already have a good lead and there are good developments so far in the investigation,” he said in an interview over Brigada News FM.

Supiter said the SITG was activated immediately after the blast on orders of Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 regional director Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco. It is composed of various law enforcement units and investigation agencies in the area, he said.

He said it was tasked to cooperate and coordinate in the investigation to speed up the resolution of the case, especially the identification, filing of appropriate charges and arrest of the suspects.

“We’re doing our best to resolve this case the soonest possible time,” Supiter said.

Aside from the investigation, the SITG was tasked to review the security deployment in the city, said Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, the PRO-12 public information officer.

SITG Bonita is tasked to determine whether there’s a need to revise or realign the security measures implemented by the city police, the police official said.

Police investigators said the explosion on Sunday was caused by an IED that was packed with one-inch concrete nails as shrapnel.

Roy Bonita, manager of the lying-in clinic, said two unidentified men aboard a motorcycle stopped in front of the establishment and left a bag about five to six meters from their main door.

Bonita said they heard a loud explosion at the scene, moments after the two men, one them reportedly wearing a black bonnet, hurriedly left.

Eight bystanders and customers of an eatery located beside the clinic sustained minor injuries as a result of the blast.

Meantime, Supiter confirmed that Chief Insp. Patrich Elma, the chief of the Makar police station, was relieved from his post as a result of the incident.

He said they have yet to designate a replacement for Elma, whose relief was relayed to the city police by the PRO-12.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1048187