Arrested men in Bulacan persons of interest, not yet suspects—NCRPO

NCRPO director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER FILE

The police are still determining whether the two persons they arrested in Bulacan was indeed the suspects who left an improvised explosive device (IED) near the US Embassy in Manila on Monday.

“As of now, hindi pa natin matukoy na sila talaga ang nag-iwan ng IED sa Roxas Boulevard (As of now, we cannot ascertain yet if they were the ones who left the IED on Roxas Boulevard),” National Capital Region Police Office head Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said on Wednesday.

READ: Man suspected of leaving IED near US embassy arrested

Albayalde said two “persons of interest” were nabbed in Bulakan town on Wednesday morning. One of them was identified by the Bulacan police as Rayson Kilala (Christian name) or Rashid Kilala (Muslim name), 34, and a resident of Bagumbayan, Bulakan.

But he said the arrested individuals had similar features with the person described by an informant in coming up with the computerized facial sketch of the man.

“Hawig po sa composite sketch na binigay ng eyewitness kung totoo na siya ‘yung nag-iwan ng IED (He looks like the man in the composite sketch derived from the eyewitness, (but we still have to) ascertain if he was the one who left the IED),” he said.

Albayalde said the police are still confirming whether the persons of interest were members of the Maute terror group.

The police official said PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will probably give an official statement on Thursday if the two were indeed the suspects behind the attempted bombing attack.

Kilala and his companion were brought to the Manila Police District and were placed under custodial investigation. IDL