THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is hunting down a man and two women as persons of interest in the explosion that rocked the crowded night market on Roxas Avenue in Davao City last Friday.
"We have description on the three persons of interest. Isa pa lang ang nagawan ng sketch, yong lalaki. Yong dalawang babae, wala pa," PNP director Ronald dela Rosa said in a press conference at the Camp Quintin Merecido, Davao City, Saturday evening.
But dela Rosa refused to give further details regarding the three persons of interest and said they could not tell whether they are still in the city.
Dela Rosa vowed to release to the public their cartographic sketch.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao director Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan also said they have eight witnesses.
Gaerlan said the police are keeping the identities of the witnesses confidential for their security.
As to the components of the improvised explosive device (IED) found at the blast site, dela Rosa said, the device was fashioned from a mortar ammunition.
"We called it IED using, presumably, a mortar round," the PNP director said.
Dela Rosa affirmed that the explosive is similar to the signature IED of a certain Abdul Manap Mentang, the suspect in bombing of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) last 2005, who remains at large.
With the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) reportedly claiming responsibility for the attack, dela Rosa said they expect the group will own the incident, but authorities are still validating whether the explosion was indeed perpetrated by the ASG.
Dela Rosa said they are cross-matching the three persons of interest to a gallery of the ten terrorist earlier released by the authorities nationwide and they are not discounting other possibilities.
The authorities are also suspecting that the explosion on Roxas Avenue was just a diversionary tactic to ease up the pressure the country is experiencing, particularly in Sulu and in Basilan, and divert everybody's attention.
When asked if he is displeased about the performance of the police personnel in the region, dela Rosa said that is the least of his concern.
Dela Rosa believes the police are doing their best to ensure the safety of the people here.
"I am not dissatisfied with the performance of the policemen here. Nakalusot lang talaga. It is not the right time to point fingers. Imagine the Central Intelligence Agency in US nalusutan nga, how much more the PNP intelligence," he said.
The PNP director met the members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) at Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) in Davao City on Saturday evening and then he went to meet the city and provincial police at PRO-Davao.
Dela Rosa ordered the Davao police to maximize police visibility and strictly conduct checkpoint and chokepoints in their areas of responsibility.
Dela Rosa said the PNP with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now on full alert status.
Updated list
Casualties of the Roxas Night Market provided by City Information Office
Deceased
1. Adremesin, Jay - Wake at Angel Funeral Homes; to be
transferred to Nurallah, So. Cotabato (hometown)
2. Arellano, Maria Luz - Wake at Angel Funeral Homes; transported to Maputi, Banay-banay last September 4, 2016
3. Basilisco, Mercy - Wake at Angel Funeral Homes; transported to Matin-ao, Davao del Norte last September 4, 2016
4. Cagantas, Rogelio Jr. - transported to Tagbina, Surigao del Sur on September 3, 2016
5. Decolongon, Kristelle - Transported to Surallah, September 3, 2016
at 7:53AM
6. Larida, Deniel - Wake at Calinan Angel Funeral Homes
7. Larida, Melanie Faith - Wake at Calinan Angel Funeral Homes
8. Macacua, Pipalawan - Transported to Parang, Maguindanao last
September 3, 2016 at 3:15PM
9. Biscocho, Eufemia - Wake at Barangay 31-D (Residence)
10. Bisnon, Kristia Gaile - Wake at Cosmopolitan, Camus
11. Merecido, Ruth - Wake at Matina Pangi (Residence)
12. Nagal, Salvador Reginaldo - Wake at Hermes Room Cosmopolitan, Camus
13. Reyes, Christian Denver - Wake at Pisa Room Cosmopolitan, Camus
14. Sobrecarey, Evelyn - Wake at Palermo Room Cosmopolitan,
Camus
Injured
1. Cartagenas, Rosa
2. Ang, Mary Jane Lagamon
3. Fuertes, Marivic Dungog
4. Lopez, Sherry Ann
5. Ojeda, Kathreena Dungog
6. Palima, Daryl
7. Palima, Haemaccel
8. SAYON, PEARLIZA
9. Sobrecarey, Reyna Joyce
10. Jeukarnin, Or
11. Usman, Junaib M.
12. Egbus, Michael
13. Rodriguez, Camille
14. Rodriguez, Reezabeela
15. Bancil, Jeramil
16. Bancil, Myrna
17. Cajuelan, Teresa Sabellero
18. Cafe, Jean
19. Cafe, Orlando
20. Carayao, Jerome
21. Claro, Annie Lee
22. Cruz, April Ann
23. Cruz, Mary Grace
24. Delebios, Elmer Jr.
25. Depalubos, Vicenta
26. Esfortono, Joel
27. Gallardo, Chelly
28. Gallardo, Julius
29. Gonzaga, Romeo
30. Kara, Angeline
31. Lamban, Lasara
32. Lapeñas, Jesus Nelson
33. Larida, Dennis
34. Loreto, Joel
35. Maganding, Joy Tusan
36. Malang, Nasser
37. Malang, Raihana
38. Manalo, Fatima
39. Masucat, Wilfredo Jr.
40. Merioles, Glenn
41. Puton, Mylene
42. Rosal, Jenalyn
43. Salugsugan, Joan Marie
44. Sarong, Krishia
45. Tagadaya, Princess Sheena
46. Tagadaya, Steven Raeyan
47. Tayao, Samuel
48. Ampaso, Eldy
49. Artigas, Melvin Limosnero
50. Balili, Marieta Dalay
51. Bernales, Liezel
52. Cabaral, Glenn C.
53. Caforme, Olena
54. Campos, Errol Dominick Laping
55. Cañiba, Jamil Ambalgan
56. Esportono, Lilibeth
57. Goc-ong, Brando Subingsubing
58. Grecia, Anji Laura Alaban
59. Mannan, Farrusi Hadjulani
60. Merioles, Jasmine
61. Nacario, Emelita
62. Nacario, Erickson Villarosa
63. Padernal, Antonio Jr.
64. Pagaduan, Daniella
65. Reyes, Joan Juana
66. Samong, Dionane
67. Tandang, Karen
68. Torres, Donny Medel
69. Tumampos, Jay Baclayon
70. Uy, Flordeliza Bentonon
