Two ‘persons of interest’ linked to IED found near US Embassy arrested
Police on Wednesday morning arrested two persons of interest in the planting of an improvised explosive device near the US Embassy.
Police identified one of the suspects as Rayson Kilala or Rashid Kilala, 34, a resident of Barangay Bagumbayan, Bulakan, Bulacan.
Kilala was nabbed by operatives of the Manila Police District and Bulacan provincial police office at 9:30 a.m. in Bulakan town.
Kilala was nabbed by operatives of the Manila Police District and Bulacan provincial police office at 9:30 a.m. in Bulakan town.
A separate report, however, showed the arrest was done at around 10:30 a.m.
Philippine National Police Region 3 Director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino said the subject person has been brought to the MPD for further investigation.
In a radio interview, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said the persons arrested have similarities with the desciption provided by an informant.
"Hawig po sa composite sketch na binigay ng eyewitness," he said.
He said one of the persons of interest was arrested in Caloocan City.
“Ongoing po ang investigation and police operations. Most probably po by tomorrow pwede na tayong magbigay ng official statement coming from the chief PNP himself kung maganda ang magiging investigation at operations at kung talagang involved itong dalawang persons of interest at kung may kasama pa sila,” he added.
Albayalde said they do not discount the possibility that there is a group involved in the incident.
“Hindi natin dini-discount ang possibility na ito ay isang group at ito ang subject ng follow-up operation natin ngayon. Kung sila ay may maibigay na vital information, definitely we will be conducting follow-up operation kung sila talaga ito at kung may kasama pa sila,” he said.
In a separate interview on GMA News TV’s QRT, Albayalde said they might look for four to five more people.
“Tinitignan natin, more or less, kung isang grupo ‘yan, four to five people pa, at ma-establish natin ang kanilang link with each other at baka may iba pa silang network o ibang cell,” he said.
He said the two, who were interviewed separately, were cooperating with the investigation.
“Cooperative naman po so far, according to the investigators, at sila naman po ay andun pa rin at magkahiwalay sa isa’t isa, kinukunan ng statement,” he said.
The NCRPO chief said the eyewitness was called by the probers once again to pinpoint which of the two persons of interest he saw and for additional information.
“Iyon pong ating witness na pinatawag natin para posibleng maituro kung sino talaga sa kanila yung nakita niya during the planting of IED sa baywalk,” he said.
“Tinitignan natin, more or less, kung isang grupo ‘yan, four to five people pa, at ma-establish natin ang kanilang link with each other at baka may iba pa silang network o ibang cell,” he said.
He said the two, who were interviewed separately, were cooperating with the investigation.
“Cooperative naman po so far, according to the investigators, at sila naman po ay andun pa rin at magkahiwalay sa isa’t isa, kinukunan ng statement,” he said.
The NCRPO chief said the eyewitness was called by the probers once again to pinpoint which of the two persons of interest he saw and for additional information.
“Iyon pong ating witness na pinatawag natin para posibleng maituro kung sino talaga sa kanila yung nakita niya during the planting of IED sa baywalk,” he said.
The arrest was made a day after the PNP released a computer-generated sketch of the suspect.
"Siya mismo ang driver. Siya ang may dala [ng IED]. Hindi natin alam kung terorista siya na nag-rent ng taxi o taxi driver siya na nilapitan ng terorista na paki-deliver ito doon, pakilagay mo sa trash bin," PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said in a press conference Tuesday.
"Baka hindi niya alam na IED 'yung nakalagay dun. Iwan lang niya, babayaran kita ng malaki. Kung ako 'yung taxi driver papayag ako, lalo kung hindi ko alam na IED yun," he added.
The suspect placed the IED in a trash can at least 100 meters away from the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard.
Manila Police District chief Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel earlier said the IED was found along the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard. The device contained an 81-mm mortar, a 9-volt battery, a cellular phone, a switch device and a blasting cap.
He said based on initial investigations, the device was similar to the IED used in the night market bombing in Davao City last September, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of lawless violence.
Dela Rosa had earlier said that the Maute Group could be behind the planting of the IED to divert the military's operation against the bandits in Butig, Lanao del Sur. —ALG/KG/KBK, GMA News
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