Four ‘persons of interest’ in Jolo church bombings clear their names

By: Frances Mangosing - 6 years ago

This photo from the Philippine Army shows identities of alleged suspects in the Jolo church blasts as caught on CCTV. Two explosions rocked the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu, last Sunday, January 27, 2019, and left at least 21 people dead and scores of others wounded.

MANILA, Philippines — Four persons of interest in the Jolo cathedral bombings have turned themselves in to authorities on Wednesday to deny their involvement in the incident.

Alshaber Arbi, 18, a student from Caluang National Highschool; and Gerry Isnajil, a teacher from Kalingalan Caluang Highschool were accompanied by Gov. Sakur Tan and Mayor Peping Halun to the local police in Sulu on Wednesday morning, said Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Col. Gerry Besana.

Twin explosions rocked Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo last Sunday, leaving 21 killed and over a hundred injured.

The two personalities were featured in the CCTV footage during the actual blasts. The military earlier identified them as part of the Abu Sayyaf’s Ajang-Ajang faction.

But the two said they were just buying medicines from a pharmacy near the cathedral when the incident happened.

One of the two persons who surrendered was the one supposedly wearing the green jacket in the video.

He denied he was alias Kamah, who was identified by authorities as a member of the Abu Sayyaf.

They said they surfaced and went to government officials out of fear that authorities would go after them.

After the two cleared their names, two other persons of interest showed up at the local police on Wednesday afternoon.

Alsimar Mahamud, 24; and Julius Abdulzam Albi, 17, also denied any involvement in the incident, Besana said. /kga