DAVAO CITY – Philippine authorities have arrested four suspects in the deadly bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed 15 people and wounded 69 others in one of the worst terror attacks in recent years in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed the arrest and said four people were being investigated in connection to the bombing. He said security forces also raided Friday a house of a businessman in Cotabato City and seized weapons, ammunition and mortars, including homemade explosives and cell phones and blasting caps, and propaganda videos.
Among those being held were Teng Macabalang and his son TJ Macabalang and two other men who are believed to be followers of local jhadist Abdullah Maute operating in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
The young Macabalang and his mechanic Wendel Pactuan, 19, were earlier reported by his father to have been abducted by gunmen in Cotabato City. The 30-year Macabalang, owner of a decal and car stickers shop; and Pactuan were waiting for their motorcycle buyer when gunmen arrived in two vehicles and seized them.
The gunmen turned out to be government agents. Lorenzana said authorities were hunting down 10 more accomplices who have been influenced by the Islamic State in Mindanao.
Security officials did not give details of the operations that led to the capture of the bomber, but Davao City Mayor Sarah Carpio, the presidential daughter, praised the arrest of the terrorist tagged as behind the September 2 attack.
Carpio last month offered P3 million bounty for any information that will lead to the arrest of the bomber.
“The arrest of the suspected perpetrator of the September 2 bombing in Davao City is a welcome development to the operations of our law enforcers for their immediate capture. This development is commendable as we vow to expeditiously give justice to the 15 victims who died and the 69 others who were wounded in the blast,” Carpio said.
“It is, however, important for us to remember that the arrest must ultimately lead us to the dismantling of terror groups in our midst or result in the failure of more senseless acts of violence and extremism,” she added.
Carpio also appealed to the public to stay vigilant, saying, the capture of the bomber does not end the desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism.
“Let us continue to be vigilant and show the world that we do not surrender to fear nor do we allow terrorism to cripple our humanity and undermine our values,” she said. “We also need to remember that this does not end our desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism on the night of September 2 in our beloved city.”
Security remains tight in Davao City and just last month, Carpio urged Muslims to use hijab instead of niqab and burka, and citizens no to wear masks that cover the face, especially in public places, following the deadly terrorist bombing. Citizens are also discouraged to wear sunglasses, hats, balaclava, and face paint, among others that tend to hide their face.
Carpio said law enforcement authorities recommended the strict security measures after a man, wearing a bonnet and mouth mask, detonated an improvised explosive device at the night market along Roxas Avenue.
“The law enforcement officers have expressed their opinion that it would be a good security practice to disallow garments that cover the faces in public places. These garments include hats, sunglasses, facemasks, mouth masks, burqa, face paint, and other similar things.”
“I understand the sentiments of our Muslim sisters with regard to the burqa, may I suggest that you wear the hijab which shows your face or cooperate with the security personnel and show your face if you are wearing the burqa. While it is true that these garments are not disallowed by law, we discourage their use in public places,” Carpio said.
Authorities have linked the militant group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to the attack, but its spokesman, Abu Misry Mama, strongly denied the accusation. Police and military investigators found fragments of mortar bombs in the area. (Mindanao Examiner)
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