Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 6) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified the names and group of the two persons of interest (POI) in the bombing during a Sunday mass at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.
On Wednesday, the PNP released photos of POIs and identified them as Kadapi Mimbisa, alias Engineer, and his son Arsani Mimbisa, who goes by the alias Khatab.
The PNP said both are affiliated with the Dawlah Islamiyah Maute group with Lanao del Sur as their base. Kadapi is also identified as an improvised explosive device expert of the group.
Kadapi is facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention as well as illegal possession of explosive charges, while Arsani is facing a murder rap because of previous terrorism-related activities.
“One of the factors that was able to help the investigator identify these two POIs is because of the testimonies of some of the witnesses who personally saw them inside the gymnasium prior to the explosion. Nakita po talaga doon na suspicious yung ginawa nilang paggalaw [They were seen acting suspiciously],” she noted.
Fajardo also said one of the POIs was seen continuously talking over his cell phone. This prompted one of the church assistants to ask him to transfer seats since he was already distracting the mass.Prior to the explosion, the other POI was also spotted hurriedly leaving the establishment, Fajardo added.She said police have obtained and are currently enhancing CCTV footage from outside the school campus.Aside from the two POIs already identified, Fajardo said they are also looking for two others who may have served as lookouts during the bomb attack.At a briefing on Wednesday, PBGen Allan Nobleza, police regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region said the government will give a reward to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of those seen to be behind the explosion.He added they were working with Mindanao State University officials to establish a long-term security plan for the school.
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Meanwhile, Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri allayed worries, saying the country was in good hands following the incident.Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro added that the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines were doing everything to ensure the public’s safety and security.
“We are looking at all angles. Open pa yung case, let’s wait for the investigation,” he said.
[Translation: We are looking at all angles. The case is still open so let’s wait for the investigation.]
