(Eagle News)– Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Thursday (September 8) revealed that police have identified the person who left the improvised explosive device (IED) that killed 14 and injured more than 70 in Davao City last week.
“Nakilala na ang true identity (but) we cannot divulge dahil tuloy ang ating manhunt operations,” Dela Rosa told reporters.
Dela Rosa said that investigation reports are pointing to the involvement of drug lords in Central Mindanao.
He added that the suspect is a member of a terrorist organization but refused to give the name of the suspect and his affiliated group.
“He is identified to be a member of a terrorist group. Kaya lang hindi natin pwede sabihin ang kaniyang pangalan at saka yung kaniyang affiliation, yung kaniyang grupo. You will know later dahil on going pa ang ating manhunt operations,” Dela Rosa explained.
Dela Rosa said the signature of the bomb was similar to the ones from Central Mindanao.
“Basta sa Central Mindanao kasi sinasabi ko nanganak nang nanganak na yung grupo dyan di ba originally MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) naging BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) nanganak na naman,” he said.
Bato added that their findings led to their theory that the bombing was caused by narco-terrorism.
“Before the blast happened, we have received information that narco-personalities in Central Mindanao are funding or financing this a bombing operation. In short they are the mastermind, sila ang nagfufunding sila ang nagpi-finance sa terror attack, narco terrorism.”