MULTIPLE murder charges are set to be filed by the Davao City Police Office against the suspect of the Davao City blast that killed 15 people and injured at least 60 others on September 2, a police official said Wednesday.
"We identified the primary suspect and we will be filing a case against him today," Davao City Police Office chief Michael John Dubria said.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has identified the primary suspect of the attack through the description of the witnesses, including those who were injured and still undergoing treatment in the hospitals.
Dubria said they have interviewed more witnesses and all of their testimonies only pin point one person.
“All of these information are coming from the witnesses themselves and then since our investigation procedure is very elaborate, we covered all areas and we invited not only 11 persons of interest and then we interviewed most of the victims and we got those statements that are evidentiary value and meron po tayong mga corroborating statements pointing to one primary suspect,” he said.
“We are able to describe that suspect through artist's sketch, through personal descriptions, personal encounter and also from the pictures presented to the witnesses,” Dubria added.
Aside from the digital artist’s sketch that was made public earlier, Dubria refused to provide any other information about the said primary suspect “for operational purposes.”
Dubria said they are now tracking down the suspect with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other intelligence units.
However, Dubria said the link between Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal and the primary suspect of the blast is yet to be established.
Sabal was arrested on September 8 for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group director Senior Superintendent Albert Ignatius Ferro said the contrabands recovered from Sabal was similar to the improvised explosive device (IED) used in the Davao City bombing.
Earlier, the PNP said the IED used in the attack contains 60mm mortar which according to Ferro is common in Maguindanao.
“About [the] arrest of the Vice-Mayor [Sabal] and his possible links: number one he was arrested not in Davao City, number two he was brought to Crame and the incident happened in Davao City so the higher office is taking cognizance of this case,” said Dubria.
“It is a higher level information and as of the moment, I can only speak for myself and locally the Davao City Police. For the higher level ang case ni Talitay vice mayor,” he added. (Sunnex)