
Govt forces intensify manhunt vs MSU bombers
SECURITY forces intensified the massive manhunt for the terrorists who initiated the bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium which killed four people and injured at least 50 others last Dec. 3.
The Philippine National Police have identified the suspects as Kadapi Mimbesa alias Engineer and Arsani Membesa alias Khatab/Hatab/Lapitos.
The identities of the suspects were released amid unverified information that the MSU bomb attack was done in ‘retaliation’ to a military offensive in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao last Friday which left 11 suspected terrorists dead.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said that ‘Kadapi’ has been identified as one who carried the bag containing the bomb inside the MSU gymnasium.
She added that the two suspects have been previously accused of involvement in bomb attacks in Lanao del Sur. The suspects also used an improvised explosive device (IED) which had the same ‘bomb signature’ used in previous deadly attacks in the province.
‘Kadapi’ is wanted for kidnapping, serious illegal detention and illegal possession of explosives while ‘Arsani’ is wanted for murder, according to the PNP.
Fajardo said the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Administrative Region headed by Brigadier General Allan C. Noblez is already preparing multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against the accused.
Investigators who reviewed CCTV footage outside the gymnasium have found out that the two suspects were seen exiting the area shortly before the powerful bomb blasted.
Fajardo said that it also appears one of the suspects dialed his mobile phone shortly before the explosion, thus further raising beliefs that the IED was ‘cellphone-activated.’
Majority of the victims who were brought to the hospital for treatment after the explosion have been discharged while six have been listed in stable condition.
Police and military agents are also checking claims by Islamic State militants that they are behind the MSU bombing.
The IS said on Telegram its operators detonated the explosive while the victims were attending an early morning mass in the gymnasium.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier condemned “the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists” in the MSU gymnasium as police and military stepped-up their security nationwide.
Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said there were ‘strong indications of a foreign element’ in the bombing and added operations to get the terrorists to ‘continue unabated.’
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. aired the possibility the MSU bombing was launched by the terrorists to ‘avenge’ the killing of 11 of their fellows during an Army offensive in Maguindanao del Sur the day before.