PNP identifies ‘narco-terrorist’ in Davao bombing

Photo from Philstar

The police have finally identified the person who left the bomb or the improvised explosive device in a night market in Davao City, killing 14 people and injuring 70 more.

According to PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said that the bomber has been identified by witnesses based on the artist’s sketch released on Wednesday. “He is already identified based on testimonies of people in the area. Two massage parlor attendants have his true identity,” Dela Rosa said.

He refused to disclose the identity of the bombing as the police operation is still ongoing, but said that the bomber is identified to be a member of a terrorist group.

The investigations and intelligence reports, according to him, show that the drug lords in Central Mindanao are involved. “The more it reinforced our theory about narco-terrorism. Before the blast happened, we have received information that the narco-personalities in Central Mindanao are funding or financing this bombing operation.”

Dela Rose also hinted that the drug lords are probably retaliating from the effects of the massive crackdown on illegal drugs as waged by President Duterte so they hired terrorist groups to divert the public attention. However, Dela Rosa said that all possibilities are being considered.

“They are two different things,” he said, referring to terrorism and drugs. “And in this case it developed into terrorism because terrorists are being used by drug lords through the funding.”

The artist’s sketch of the bomber was released by Director Benjamin Magalong, PNP deputy chief for operations. He said that witnesses affirmed that the identified person was the one who left the black back which contained the IED.

Among the 20 pictures of known bombers that were shown to the witnesses, they picked out the suspect as sketched. According to Dela Rosa, they witnesses recalled the distinct features of the suspect.

Furthermore, Magalong emphasized that the parts of the IED came from Central Mindanao and was similar to those that were originally made by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF and then the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The bounty for the arrest of the suspect has been increased to P3 million, as mandated by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

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