POLICE identified the Abu Sayyaf bandits headed by Furuji Indama as the ones responsible in Tuesday's bombing in Lamitan City, Basilan province, an official said Thursday.
A teenager was injured while three houses were damaged when an improvised bomb exploded Tuesday night along Flores Street Lamitan City.
Basilan Police Director Antonio Mendoza said extortion is most likely the motive of the bombing.
Mendoza said Indama's group has set-off the improvised bomb to frighten the businessmen in Lamitan City who refused to give in to their demands.
Mendoza said Indama's group has resorted to extortion activities for personal gains as well as for operational expenses of his group.
However, Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay believed he was the target of Tuesday night's bombing.
Furigay disclosed that he had been receiving death threats before the incident occurred.
The place of the incident is just a few meters away from the residence of Furigay in Flores Street, Lamitan City. (Bong Garcia)