Cordova bomb blast stumps police
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 assured the public that they will get to the bottom of why a 33-year-old man was making an improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded in Sitio Datag, Barangay Buagsong, Cordova last Friday night.
Alijandro Novo Pil lost his right hand and suffered injuries in different parts of his body as a result.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, PRO 7 director, said they will conduct a background check on Pil, who was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City after the incident.
“We don’t think it’s the work of a terrorist, but we will investigate it. Di ikabalaka kay naay mga police sa mga lugar. Basta among buhaton among trabaho (There’s no need to worry because there are police in the area. Rest assured that we will do our job),” Sinas said.
Sinas said that Pil underwent surgery.
“Very isolated case ug di maka threaten sa security sa atong lugar (there’s no threat to security in the area)… We have yet to determine the motive,” the regional director said.
Recovered from his room were several components for bomb-making like common nails and ammonium nitrate, bullets of a 50 machine gun, a .357 revolver and a .45 pistol.
Sinas said that the crime lab and the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal will subject the items to tests.
“All the chemicals recovered will be subjected for chemical analysis in the crime laboratory,” he said.
Sinas said that Pil’s live-in partner, who was identified as Janica Sotto, is also being investigated.
“She claimed that she didn’t know where the bomb would be used. We didn’t force her to tell us because when the bomb exploded, she was inside the room. She didn’t even want to go home because she’s still nervous,” he said.
Pil allegedly locked her in the room whenever his cohorts helped him with the IED.
Pil will be facing charges for the violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591, or the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and RA 9516 for illegal possession of an explosive.