Palace: Authorities pursuing lead on suspects behind Zamboanga blast

Photo by Julie Alipala/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities are currently following a lead on who may have carried out the blast in Zamboanga City on Friday that killed two people and injured 52 others.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has gathered evidence to identify the perpetrators behind the blast.

“And as of now, what we can tell you is that current evidence available to us has indicated a particular direction. Mayroon na pong tinutumbok (We are already following a lead) based on the evidence that has been gathered, but we will leave that to the military to speak about and the PNP,” Valte said on stat-run radio dzRB.

The Palace official said President Benigno Aquino III has been briefed about the situation and also got a copy of the full report regarding the blast.

Asked if the blast is connected to terrorists Abu Sayyaf or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Valte refused to divulge information regarding the lead.

“We will not… We are not free at this time to discuss the details,” she said.

She said Malacañang would leave it to the military and the police to provide additional details about the blast.

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