Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — Four persons-of-interest are being investigated by the Manila Police District (MPD) possibly involved in the twin bombings in Quiapo Saturday night.
“Right now we cannot reveal them but we have four persons now being investigated. Hopefully they can provide us significant or material leads on the identities of the suspects involved,” said MPD Director PCSupt. Joel Coronel, who is leading the investigation.
Police have already acquired the name and cellphone number of the person who sent the package that exploded, killing two people and injuring six others.
The MPD also plans to reconstruct the bomb to from analyzed fragments at the site for investigation.
An initial post-blast investigation showed that the bomb was remotely triggered, targeting one Atty. Nasser Abinal, a Bureau of Internal Revenue official.
“Our findings show that these two explosions are related and connected to the attempt on the life of the intended victim,” Coronel said.
The police suspect two possible motives for the assassination attempt: first, related to Abenal’s job as a tax collector; and second, due to his religious affiliation as Shia Muslim-a sect of Islamic religion in conflict with another sect, the Sunni.
Abinal reportedly has not returned to the Shiite Muslim office since the incident.
