CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas said Thursday that charges had been filed against the suspects in the December 28 bombing incidents in Hilongos town in Leyte.
A known Maute Group member, Jake Anthony Macuto, alias Yusuf Perez, was charged on February 22 with multiple frustrated murder along with three John Does at the Office of the Assistant Provincial Prosecutor in Hilongos.
Macuto and the three John Does were tagged by police as responsible for the twin explosions that occurred around 9:20 p.m. of December 28, 2016 at the town plaza in Barangay Central Poblacion. A boxing event was held at the plaza when the blasts occurred. At least 32 people were injured.
The PNP-Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) said Macuto, a Muslim convert, has been conducting preaching activities in Dolores, Eastern Samar since 2015.
The three John Does were seen by some witnesses accompanying Macuto hours before the explosion in Hilongos.
SITG Commander and Police Deputy Regional Director for Operations Allan Cuevillas said Macuto is also one of the suspects in the planting of an improvised explosive device outside the US Embassy in Manila last year.
Cuevillas said the information provided by the Muslim community in Hilongos helped in their investigation and identification of the suspects.
“This also helps in ending speculations that members of Muslim community in Hilongos are involved in the bombing incident,” Cuevillas added.
Eastern Visayas Police Director Elmer Beltejar said though that investigation is ongoing, as authorities are still identifying the three John Does.
He added that they are monitoring activities of “Balik Islam” converts in Eastern Visayas.
“Based on our intelligence report, Muslim communities in the region are not involved in terroristic act, but there are 'Balik Islam' who have the tendency to become members of Maute because they are more aggressive than other Islam believers,” said Beltejar.
Cuevillas is hoping that more witnesses will come out after the filing of charges against Macuto and the three others.
He said they are now waiting for the court to issue a warrant for Macuto's arrest, so they could release his pictures to the public.
The police also encouraged the public to report to them immediately any suspicious persons and items, and help the law enforcement agencies by providing "relevant and timely information" that will lead to the identification and eventual arrest of the bombers. (With PNA/SunStar Philippines)