Police said they will “most probably” elevate the status of a person of interest to a suspect in connection with the deadly explosion that took 14 lives in the President’s hometown of Davao City.
Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Southern Mindanao police chief, said the “principal suspect” was a man who was seen leaving a backpack after availing massage at the Roxas Night Market in the southern metropolis.
“Meron tayong nagawang composite illustration nung persons of interest and we will have another case conference this afternoon, and most probably we will elevate a person of interest to suspect. We will make necessary announcement para hindi naman ma-preempt ‘yung ongoing naming pursuit operation,” Gaerlan said over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
“Nagpamasahe ‘yung principal suspect at may iniwan siyang backpack,” he said.
(We have made a composite illustration of the persons of interest and we will have another case conference this afternoon, and most probably elevate a person of interest to suspect. We will make the necessary announcement to avoid preempting our ongoing pursuit operation.
The principal suspect had an massage and left a backpack.)
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Gaerlan said the police were looking at four persons of interest including two females, whose roles in the bombing have yet to be determined.
“Apat ‘yung ating persons of interest at isa ‘yung medyo mabigat-bigat… ‘Yung dalawang babae circumstantial pa lang ‘yung testimony, hindi pa conclusive kung i-elevate sila sa suspect,” he added.
They could be acting together, but definitely isa ‘yung nag-iwan. We cannot say for sure na kasama niya ‘yung dalawang babae.
(We have four persons of interest, and one of them is quite weighty. The two women have only circumstantial testimonies so far; it isn’t yet conclusive whether they would be elevated as suspects.
They could be acting together, but definitely one of them left [the backpack]. We cannot say for sure if he was with the two women.)
Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa on Tuesday said a combination of an 81mm and 60mm mortars tied to a wire was used in the improvised bomb that was meant to “cause maximum casualty.” CDG
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