COPS STEP-UP HUNT FOR MSU BOMBERS

POLICE have stepped-up their hunt for the terrorists who planted a powerful improvised device inside the Mindanao State University gymnasium in Marawi City that killed four people and injured at least 50 others last Sunday morning.

The Philippine National Police identified two of the suspects as Kadapi Mimbesa alias “Engineer” and Arsani Membesa alias “Khatab/Hatab/Lapitos.”

The identities of the suspects were released amid some unverified information that the MSU bomb attack was done in retaliation to a military offensive in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao last Friday, which left 11 suspected terrorists dead.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean S. Fajardo said that “Kadapi” has been identified as the man who carried the bag containing the bomb inside the gymnasium packed with people attending an early Sunday morning Catholic mass.

She added that the two suspects have been previously accused of involvement in bomb attacks in Lanao del Sur. The suspects also used an IED, which had the same “bomb signature” used in previous deadly attacks in the province.

Authorities said “Kadapi” is already wanted on charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and illegal possession of explosives while “Arsani” is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder.

According to Fajardo, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Administrative Region headed by Brig. Gen. Allan C. Noblez is already preparing multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against the accused.

Investigators who have reviewed all available CCTV footages outside the gymnasium have found out that the two suspects were seen existing the area shortly before the powerful bomb fashioned out from a 60mm mortar round went off.

Fajardo said that it also appears that one of the suspects dialed his mobile phone shortly before the explosion further raising beliefs that the IED was “cellphone-activated.”

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda placed all Mindanao police units on full alert in the aftermath of the bombing.