MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, said the three dozen individuals injured in the bomb attack in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Tuesday are now out of danger.
“Out of the 36, 15 have been discharged from the hospital and all the rest who are still in the hospital are out of danger already,” Albayalde told newsmen during the 29th founding anniversary of the PNP Police Community Relations Group Thursday night.
Three persons died during the bombing, he said.
Albayalde said one of the suspects, who is still at large, placed a satchel with the improvised explosive devise (IED) under a motorcycle owned by a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in the area.
The suspect managed to escape with a motorcycle rider waiting for him until the bomb went off.
He said they are pursuing persons of interest and will release a cartographic sketch of the suspect.
While a number of groups, including a foreign terror group, has owned up to the bomb attack, he said the PNP will await confirmation following the completion of the examination of bomb fragments by experts.
“Of course, we still have the bomb data center personnel who were dispatched there to collate to determine what’s the signature, where it came (from) and who made this IED,” Albayalde said.
A number of witnesses can identify the suspects, who reportedly bought fruits from a nearby fruit stand and spoke to vendors in the area prior to the explosion.
The PNP said there are unverified general reports on the threats and had more than 260 security personnel in the area when the incident happened. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
