A SPECIAL Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been activated to deeply investigate Thursday's roadside bombing incident in Isabela City, Basilan province.
Basilan Police Director Oscar Nantes said the SITG will comprise of personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Isabela City police, military and from other government agencies as its members.
Nantes, as the Basilan police director, will be the head of the SITG.
Nantes said the investigation will focus on all possible motives behind the attempt on the life of Isabela City Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon in a bid to unmask the perpetrators.
The bomb exploded when Ajibon's convoy passed by the area. Three of his companions and a government employee who was on the way to a store were killed in the blast that took place around 1:10 p.m. Thursday in the village of Sunrise, Isabela City.
Ajibon escaped unscathed although the vehicle he was riding was damaged.
Superintendent Albert Larubis, Isabela City police chief, said post-blast investigation showed the bomb was an ammonium nitrate fuel oil type of explosive.
He said it was "command-detonated," citing it was set off through the use of a radio transceiver.
Ajibon believes the explosion was politically motivated. But he said he is leaving it to the SITG to unmask the culprits.