Police leave no stone unturned in probe of Tacurong City bombing

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is undertaking a thorough investigation on the bomb blast that occurred in Tacurong City Monday afternoon.

PNP Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome, as officer-in-charge of the case, said he has tasked Region 12 police director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to supervise the investigation of the bombing that destroyed the third vehicle in Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu’s convoy at around 3:20 p.m., killing one and wounding seven others.

Authorities are stepping up their checkpoint operations and intelligence gathering in the entire region, Bartolome said. He vowed that the PNP will bring the perpetrators of the bombing to justice.

Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu identified the fatality as Raffy Parenas and the wounded as Bebot Barabarang, Datu Rusman Sinsuat Sr., Datu Rusman Sinsuat Jr., Noble Abdullah, Mabang Ant0nio Algaba, Richard Sonza and Robert Formacion.

He said initial reports indicate that the bomb ripped through a white Kia Pride (MDJ-274) where it was planted. It hit the third vehicle in the governor’s convoy, Sinsuat’s Black Fortuner (LGU-933). Frances Mangosing