Friday, March 31, 2006
Police release bus bomber's sketch
By Al Jacinto
With Ben O. Tesiorna and Rex C. Otero
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Police have released Thursday the sketch of a man believed to be behind the bombing of a passenger bus in Digos City in the southern Philippines that injured as many as 17 people.
Authorities also offered P100,000 bounty for the man's capture, but officials would not say whether the bomber was a member of the outlawed New People's Army (NPA) or the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of bombings in the southern Philippines.
Police suggested the man could also be a member of the shadowy extortion syndicate called Urban Tiger Action Group, which earlier tried but failed to collect illegal taxes from the Weena Bus Transit.
Weena Bus owner Digoy Valdevieso reportedly told authorities that a few hours before the explosion, an unidentified person called him up demanding P2.8 million.
The sketch of the bomber released Thursday was based on the description of witnesses.
Police and military officials said a homemade bomb exploded Wednesday inside one of Weena's bus at the city's bus depot. A military report said the bomb was probably made from ammonium nitrate, a banned fertilizer commonly used by insurgents to make homemade explosives. Several buses were also damaged from the explosion.
Investigators said they found traces of the chemical explosive at the rear of the bus, where the bomb was believed planted.
Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 director, said the bomb that exploded inside Weena Bus is an incendiary bomb, a bomb intended to cause a fire after it explodes.
Special Anti-terrorist Unit (Satu) blast investigator Chief Inspector Paulino Saulda said they recovered a burned safety fuse, non-electric blasting cap, and disposable lighters from the crime scene.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Arturo Lomibao went to Digos City Thursday to personally check on the area as police and military authorities heightened the security alert level in the region. He was accompanied by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is the Regional Peace and Order Council chair.
Duterte said aside from extortion, they are also looking into the possible involvement of terror groups and the NPA. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(March 31, 2006 issue)
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