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Police to file raps vs Cotabato blast suspects


(Updated 3:20 p.m.) Police are set to file next Tuesday multiple murder and frustrated murder complaints before the North Cotabato provincial prosecutor's office against five suspects implicated in the bomb blast that killed at least 10 people on Oct. 21. Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao said the suspects were identified as Ibrahim Alimanan, Alex Samal, Yazer Talusog, and Abdulh Alib Talusob. A 15-year-old boy, who tipped the police of the suspects’ whereabouts, will also be charged with the crimes, Hao said. The suspects were arrested after the boy admitted he planted the bomb inside the Rural Transit Bus on orders of the suspects, the official said. The suspects were arrested in Cotabato City at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, after the boy confessed to the police of his complicity in the bomb blast inside the Rural Transit Bus, Hao said. The boy is allegedly a relative of the suspects, according to initial police investigation. Suspects were brought to the North Cotabato police office in Kidapawan City for proper disposition, Hao said. “It’s a job well done. Our [Philippine National Police], [local government units], military, and other concerned civilians did it without fanfare. Kaya, within 24 hours may lead na kami. Within 48 hours may huli na," Cotabato Gov. Lala Talinio-Mendoza Talinio-Mendoza has offered up to P100,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspects who left a bag with an improvised explosive device in the passenger bus. Police said that three suspicious men boarded the bus in Kabacan, North Cotabato. They reportedly disembarked from the bus when it reached Matalam town, just before the bomb exploded. The explosion killed at least ten people and injured 30 others, many of whom were in serious condition due to severe head wounds. Police said the bus, which came from Cagayan de Oro City, was carrying about 60 passengers. Police had said their initial leads indicated the bombers were members of a “terrorist group" but declined to give further details while operations were ongoing. Investigators also said they were still not discounting the possibility of extortion as the motive for the attack. When asked for the group affiliation of the arrested suspects, Hao said: “We are not yet certain. We are still checking." UK travel advisory Meanwhile, the British government reiterated its advice against all travel to southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago covering the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. “We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao," the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said. In its updated travel advisory this weekend, the UK government said the incident was the latest in terrorist and criminal attacks in the Philippines. “There have been terrorist attacks against civilian targets in Mindanao. There is also criminal activity in Mindanao, including the use of kidnapping and explosions," it said. The UK government advised British nationals in the Philippines to travel by air or sea routes to Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental. “There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at any time and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers," it said. Around 90,000 British tourists visit the Philippines each year. — With Malu Cadeliña Manar/JE/VS, GMANews.TV
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