THE Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday condemned the bombing of a bus in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, which killed one man and wounded 11 others on Sunday.

“The Philippine National Police condemns in the strongest terms the shameful attack on civilians on board a passenger bus in Tacurong City this morning that killed one person and wounded 11 others in what can only be described as the handiwork of criminal minds,” said PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. in a statement.

The top cop said that following the terror attack, the entire capital city of Sultan Kudarat province was placed under “tight security” watch as police and military security forces stepped-up their effort to find out leads that would result in the identification and arrest of the bombers.

Azurin said that the “authors of this latest episode of senseless violence” will be hunted at all costs and brought behind bars for justice.

He said those responding police officers focused on the immediate evacuation for medical care of the wounded and the disposition of the dead.

PNP ordnance disposal experts also rushed to the area to conduct a post-blast investigation and ensure that there was no more threat of any secondary explosion.

“We do not want to make premature conclusions as to the motive and suspects behind this crime without the benefit of evidence-based investigation, but we are not discounting the possibilities of historical data of criminal motive behind similar attacks in the past,” Azurin said.

“We assure the people of Central Mindanao that the full might of the PNP and the government will be used to arrest these criminals so that justice will be served and the rule of law prevails,” he added.

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Alfred P. Dalizon