PNP dangles P1.5M to solve 3 attacks in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday offered a total of P1.5 million to anyone who could help authorities accost suspects in three "sensational cases" in Mindanao, including attacks on ranking government officials. PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, in a ceremony at Camp Crame, said P500,000 would be up for grabs for any information that would lead to the solving of the case on the attack on Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan’s convoy in front of the provincial hall. The attack – which happened past noon last May 13, injured at least 10 people including two Army integrees, five police personnel, and two civilians. Tan admitted receiving death threats before the attack. Also, the PNP said it was offering another P500,000 reward money for the solving of the case on the roadside bombings believed to be aimed at slaying former Maguinadanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan. The assault on Ampatuan that happened last Friday led to the death of one person and the wounding of at least three others. The bombings were blamed on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The secessionist group denied the allegations. The final P500,000 reward would be given to anyone who could help police trace and arrest suspected MILF rebels who attacked three villages in Lebak town in Sultan Kudaratm also last Friday. The suspected rebels reportedly looted local villagers’ personal belongings, store supplies, and farm animals. The suspects also allegedly took 20 residents as hostages and used them as human shields during their escape. The hostages were freed the next day. Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the assault was a mere retaliatory attack due to the tactical setback that the rebel group suffered from government forces. "We are coming up with a reward of P500,000 each for any information that could lead to the arrest or solution of these high-profile crimes," Verzosa said. While the Abu Sayaff was tagged as responsible for slay attempt on Tan and renegade MILF rebels on kill attempt on Ampatuan and the raid in Sultan Kudarat, Verzosa said they have yet to establish the real identity and group affiliation of those responsible. "That’s what we are trying to establish right now and we hope that these rewards will encourage public cooperation to lead us to the perpetrators," he said. Rewards During the same ceremony, Verzosa also handed out a total of P290,000 reward money to two informants who coordinated with police in the solving of two cases of journalist killings. One informant received P140,000 for giving information to investigators that led to the arrest of the suspected killer of Philip Agustin, editor and publisher of the weekly Starline Times Recorder. Agustin was ambushed in Dingalan town on May 10, 2005. Meanwhile, P150,000 was handed to another informant who helped police in arresting Menandro Biscocho, one of the three suspected killers of journalist Bert Sison. Sison – publisher of the weekly Regional Bulletin – was slain on July 1, 2008 in Sariaya Quezon. His daughter was hurt in the incident. Police later arrested Biscocho and his two other brothers and filed charges of murder and attempted murder. - GMANews.TV