4 ‘persons of interest’ eyed in Koronadal City blast

CITY -Police are pursuing at least four “persons of interest” in connection with the bomb explosion beside a Catholic church and the recovery of another explosive in the city on Sunday, April 29.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde said, in a press conference on Monday night, April 30, that manhunt operations are ongoing for the arrest of suspects behind the noontime attack that left two persons injured.

Albayalde said two of them have been already identified while the others were known by their aliases.

“Maganda ang tinutumbok dito (We have a good lead with this case). We have some witnesses and that’s very important,” he said.

The PNP chief personally inspected the blast site near the side entrance gate of the Christ the King Cathedral along Rizal Street and the 747 convenience store along the General Santos Drive where another improvised bomb was found.

Albayalde said investigators have already issued a computerized facial composite of the suspects but are “keeping it among ourselves as this time” to ensure the investigation is not compromised.

As to the possible affiliation of the suspects, the PNP chief said they have not yet established their links to any organized group.

Albayalde ordered the maximum deployment of police personnel in the city and the neighboring areas to avert similar attacks.

Meanwhile, the City Government has offered a P100,000 reward for the arrest of the suspects.

Mayor Peter Miguel said the reward money aims to help speed up the ongoing investigation and law enforcement operations against personalities who were tagged as directly behind the bomb attack.