Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief (Photo from the Facebook page of the Eastern Police District)
Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), assured on Sunday that he has “directed the mobilization of all available police security forces” to bring the people responsible for the explosion in General Santos City to justice.
“I have directed the mobilization of all available police security forces in pursuit operations against persons responsible for the latest act of terrorism in General Santos City this morning even as we extend our support and sympathies to our fellow Filipinos who were wounded in the explosion incident,” he said in a statement.
The police chief expressed “strong condemnation of this senseless act of terror for whatever motive its perpetrators may have” and guaranteed their “keen resolve and commitment to bring before the bar of justice those responsible for this dastardly and vicious act.”
Following the attack, Albayalde said that he had ordered police units in the Soccsksargen Region to “further intensify” checkpoints and police patrols and closely coordinate with other members of the security.
He also encouraged the public to help in identifying the suspects of the attack.
“At the same time we will surely appreciate any information from our citizens that may help police to identify the suspects and solve this particular case,” he said.
An improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated beside a TGP Generic Pharmacy near Hadano Park, Crossing Makar, National Highway in General Santos City that caused injuries to seven people, one of them a six year-old girl. /atm