Palace offers reward for info on bombers

The bounty for the arrest of the perpetrators of the bombings in Mindanao will be known soon, Malacañang said on Friday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the details of the reward such as the identities of the perpetrators were being worked out.

“There are several details that are being checked out and that are being finalized,” Valte told reporters in a phone patch interview.

“Once there are names of the figures and personalities … we’ll let you know.”

After speaking at the Mindanao Business Conference in Davao City on Thursday, President Benigno Aquino III said he would announce rewards for information that would lead to the arrest of those behind the bombings in Mindanao.

Mr. Aquino said the authorities were looking into the growing capability of three “threat groups” to mount attacks aimed at derailing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said the government was mounting operations against the Abu Sayyaf, adding that the perpetrators of the July 26 bomb attack in Cagayan de Oro City had links with slain Abu Sayyaf leader Gumbahali Jumdail.

Army officials had received information that the Abu Sayyaf was manufacturing bombs to be used in attacks in Mindanao.

Valte disputed observations that the Abu Sayyaf was the usual suspect that the military tags in attacks.

“We’re certain. We’re certain … Everything that we get is being vetted and vetted again just to make sure that we’re going in the right direction,” she said.