New ‘persons of interest’ behind MSU blast hunted

SEEKING HELP This poster released by the Philippine National Police seeks help from the public in gathering information that will lead to the identities and arrest of two more “persons of interest” in the Dec. 3 bomb attack at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. Any information may be relayed to the nearest police station or through the PNP hotline at 0905-3524920.

The Philippine National Police has put up a P1-million reward for any information that would lead to the identities of two new “persons of interest” suspected to have planted the bomb in the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University (MSU) on Dec. 3.

Three others, said to be members of the Daulah Islamiyah (DI)-Maute Group, a local affiliate of the Islamic State which claimed responsibility for the explosion, had been arrested in separate operations last week. They were being investigated for their supposed roles in the attack that killed four and wounded more than 50 people attending a Sunday Mass.

However, two suspects earlier identified behind the bombing remain at large.

Security camera

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the two persons of interest were seen through backtracking of security camera footage outside the Mohammad Ali B. Dimaporo Gymnasium at MSU’s main campus in Marawi City early on Dec. 3.

Based on footage from a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera outside the gym, the two men were seen entering the gym at 6:08 a.m. and even went for a coffee around 30 minutes later.

According to Fajardo, the first man, who was wearing a black jacket, was the driver of the getaway motorcycle.

By 7:03 a.m., the first man and the second man, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and carrying a black sling bag, entered the gym.

“As you can see in the CCTV, the sling bag is shown to have two bumps, because inside it were the improvised explosive device (IED) used, which is a 60-mm mortar and a rocket-propelled grenade. It was very obvious that it was in the bag where the concealed explosives were,” Fajardo said.

The two men left the gym at 7:11 a.m., a minute before the explosion happened. The second man was then seen using his cellphone, which appeared to be the triggering device of the IED.

“We are appealing to the public, if you know these persons, please contact the police. We have reasonable grounds to believe that these two persons, along with other personalities—are involved in the explosion in MSU,” Fajardo said.

Police, however, are still looking for two identified suspects—Kadapi Mimbesa (alias “Engineer”) and Arsani Membisa (alias “Khatab,” “Hatab” and “Lapitos”)—who are members of DI-Maute Group.

Arrests

Both have standing warrants of arrest. Mimbesa is facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and illegal possession of explosives, while Membisa has a standing warrant for murder.

Fajardo said the two men were also involved in previous bomb attacks in Mindanao.

A series of follow-up operations by the police and military arrested three suspected DI-Maute Group members.

Reports said one Jafar Gamo Sultan, alias “Jaf” or “Kurot,” was arrested by combined troops of Task Force Marawi and Marawi City police on Dec. 6 in Barangay Dulay Proper—some 10 kilometers away from the MSU campus.

Fajardo said the police on Dec. 11 filed complaints for illegal possession of explosives and for harboring criminals against Sultan.

“We received information that Engineer and Lapitos met and planned the bombing of the MSU gym in the house of Sultan. He also harbored these criminals, despite knowing that they have pending warrants of arrest and were planning the terrorist attack,” she added.

On Dec. 9, authorities also arrested two DI-Maute Group members, identified only through their aliases—“Maausor” and “Monatanda/Titing”—at Barangay Kabasaran in Lumbayanague town, Lanao del Sur.

Seized from them were high-powered firearms, including M-14 rifles, and ammunition intended to be fired from AK-47 rifles.

Both Monatanda/Titing and Maausor have pending warrants of arrest for murder and are the third and fourth most wanted persons, respectively, in Lanao del Sur.

“According to the information we received, after the MSU bombing, it was in this area that our suspects Engineer and Lapitos, as well as our two persons of interest, fled and hid,” Fajardo said.

The Special Investigation Task Group is still “studying” another set of CCTV footage to identify other people involved in the terror attack.

READ: MSU bombing victims get assistance from gov’t – PCO