POLICE theorized that Thursday's bombing at the Zamboanga International Airport was politically motivated and that the target was Sulu Governor Abdusaakur Tan.
Except for Tan, police investigators noted that there were no other prominent personalities, whether from government or private sectors, in the crowd of people when the bomb exploded.
Tan, along with some other passengers, were coming out of the arrival area at 6:15 p.m. Thursday after they disembarked from a commercial plane that arrived from Manila.
Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, who arrived in Zamboanga City Friday morning to oversee the investigation, ordered the conduct of a thorough investigation to unmask who could be the possible mastermind of the bombing.
Tan believed he was the target of the attack, citing the "bomb-carrier" was a meter away from him when the bomb went off.
Tan said the body of the bomb-carrier, who was later identified as Reynaldo Apilado, served as his shield since the backpack containing the explosive was strapped at his back.
Apelado's torso was in a total wreck as a result of the impact of the explosion that also killed a resident of Basilan province and wounded 24 others, including Governor Tan and a British national.
Tan sustained a superficial wound below his rib.
The Sulu governor said Thursday's incident was the second attempt on his life, citing the first was on May 13, 2009.
Two people died while 24 others were wounded in that incident. The victims were in the convoy of Tan that was leaving the provincial capitol building in Patikul town, Sulu.
The bomb, which was detonated through a radio transceiver, was placed in a parked motorcycle near the capitol building.
Police authorities in Zamboanga City suspect Apelado was just used by the people who are behind the attempt on Tan's life in carrying out their ill-intent. (Bong Garcia)