THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas said Tuesday, January 10, that the Maute terrorist group in Mindanao was behind the December 28, 2016 town plaza bombing in Hilongos, Leyte.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Elmer Beltejar said the explosive device used in Hilongos is similar to the ones used by the Maute group in Davao and Cotabato bombings, and even in the foiled bombing attempt in front of the United States Embassy in Manila.
The police declined to name the suspects, but said they are aware of their location.
“Per intelligence information we gathered, the main suspect is really a member of the Maute group, but there were three of them who planned and executed the bombing. They were sighted few a days before the bombing, and hours before the bombing,” Beltejar said.
Citing intelligence reports, Beltejar confirmed that local drug syndicates financed the Maute group to launch the retaliatory attack on December 28 that injured 35 viewers of an amateur boxing match.
The bombing happened after the October 22, 2016 arrest of Raidah Ampaso Sarip, a native of Marawi City and resident of Hindang, Leyte, for illegal drugs trade and production of fake money.
“This is also a way for the Maute group to show that they are a force to reckon with to get the nod of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) for affiliation and also for fund purposes),” Beltejar said.
The police are speeding up the investigation relative to the explosion incident that spoiled the town’s fiesta celebration. (PNA)