The vehicle helper of a passenger van arriving from North Cotabato was seriously injured while the driver was
declared safe after an improvised explosive device exploded inside the UV
Express outside the terminal of SM Davao along Ecoland West on Wednesday
morning.
The victim was identified as alias Tatat Besanes, who was
hit in the head and back of this body. Besanes was rushed to the Southern
Philippines Medical Center.
The van driver, 50-year-old Herman Daag was unhurt but he
was under observation by the Central 911 medical team after his blood pressure
shoot up.
Davao City Police Office report said the UV Express
passenger van left at 5am Wednesday from Pikit, North Cotabato province and
arrived in Davao City Time
Beach
Besanes was still able to drive the van some 100 meters away
from the Ecoland 4000 gate.
At least two cars parked along the Eco West drive were
damaged by IED splinters with broken side mirrors, holes on the passenger side
and flatten tires.
While Ronald Mendrez, the owner of the damaged four-door
sedan, was removing the front tire of the car, a certain part of the 60MM
mortar was found under the car. The Scene of the Crime (SOCO) team took the
material and examined the IED part.
The explosion came on the heels of the reported threat from
local armed groups identifying themselves with the ISIS .
It may be recalled that after the Paris
simultaneous attack, a local armed group in Mindanao threatened to copy the
same tactic and warned to target major cities in Mindanao .
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Vicente Danao
however said threats have always been present that is why the city has been on
triple red alert after the Paris incident and
the Philippines
While he did not discount the explosion was a handiwork of
local armed group, Danao said he is just waiting for the post blast
investigation report to determine the type of IED and the possible motive of
the crime. Danao said they are initially looking at different motives.
First is the alleged grudge from competitors. UV Express is
operated by Gregorio Guerrero from Davao
City
The SM Van Terminal is one of the four terminals authorized
by the city government to operate outside the city’s Davao City Overland
Transport Terminal (DCOTT). Duterte has earlier ordered arrest of drivers and
impounding of colorum vans, as well as arrest of drivers of legal vans but
soliciting passengers in illegal terminals.
Second, police is also digging deeper into the alleged
extortion from a certain group in Pikit. It was learned that Pikit criminal
group had extorted money from the operator. Police is eyeing the person who
disembarked infront of the terminal. The person was picked up by another person
on board a motorcycle.
Danao said they will carefully examine the incident to get
the real motive and identities of suspects.
Security lapses
Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte, who arrived in the area, said
the incident should warn the public to be vigilant at all times.
He said there could be lapses in security at the borders of Davao City
Paolo however assured the public that the city government is
doing its best to secure the people of the city.
Paolo is also set to talk to the Commander of the Task Force
Davao to sort out the situation and wants stricter security checks at the
border checkpoints.
Danao said the security is very tight since Sunday but
nothing is impenetrable.
According to him, terrorists were able to attack even Paris
While he assured the public that police remain in control of
the situation, Danao said keeping the city safe and secure also needs the
cooperation and vigilance of the public.
DCPO spokesperson Milgrace Driz already released the safety
tips during bomb explosion incidents and other crimes.
Driz said the public must exercise vigilance especially at
this times when there are threats from armed groups.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=828580
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