“HINDI yun suicide bombing. May naglagay sa bomba sa ilalim ng silya,” a witness has provided authorities with a piece of vital information claiming she saw a man place the bomb under a plastic chair before the explosion ripped through the crowd of Catholic worshippers in Mindanao State University last Sunday.
“Aling Rita (name withheld) “ told police investigators that she caught a glimpse of the suspected bomber as he placed the bomb under a plastic chair and left the Dimaporo Gymnasium before the bomb went off around 7:15 am Sunday.
She said that she was able to identify the unidentified bomber from the set of two pictures shown to her by the police investigators.
“Shoulder length ang kulot na buhok niya at naka itim na facemask. Pagkatapos nilagay ang bag sa ilalim sa silya, pumunta siya sa CR. Lumabas ulit and tuloy lumabas sa gymnasium,” Aling Rita narrated.
A retired government employee and a regular at the Sunday Masses in the Dimaporo gymnasium at Mindanao State University, Aling Rita said the movements of the unidentified man aroused her suspicion.
She said continued to watch the man as he left the comfort room and exited the gymnasium but then the early Sunday Mass, the first for the Advent season, had already started.
Police said two bombs — a 60mm mortar shell fused with an improvised explosive device — exploded at around 7:15 am ripping deadly shrapnel through the worshippers.
Benjie Lucero and his wife Jasmine were seated in the back row and were blinded by the explosion.
“We stood up for the opening hymn of the Mass when a bolt of lightning filled my eyes,” Jasmine said.
Benjie, on the other hand, found his face was bloodied and also his clothes. He and Jasmine suffered only minor injuries.
Lanao del Sur PNP spokesperson Major Alinaid Moner said three Mass-goers died on the spot while another died at Amai Pakpak Hospital in Marawi City.
Moner said the bomb explosion ripped the lights on the roof of the Dimaporo gymnasium scattering glass shards all around.
PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said probers did not find any triggering devices from the bomb scene last Sunday.
“This is however a preliminary finding. Our probers are still checking the bomb site,” Acorda said
Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez, commander of the AFP Western Mindanao, said are looking for four not two leaders of the local Dawlah-Islamiya Maute terrorist group believed to have been responsible for Sunday’s bombing in Mindanao State University that left four dead and 46 others wounded
Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez, commander of the AFP Western Mindanao, said a manhunt has been launched against the four terrorists believed to be operating in Lanao del Sur.
“We believed that the four were in constant communications with each other in planning for the attack,” Gonzalez said.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., said they are still checking how the four leaders linked up with ISIS who claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack.
Meanwhile, PNP BARMM commander General Allan Nobleza ordered 150 elite policemen to patrol the streets of the MSU campus to restore the confidence of the students and teachers.
“Your first duty is to protect and restore the confidence of the students and the teachers,” Nobleza told the company of policemen.
Still, students continue to leave the campus upon the urging of their parents who fear an escalation of violence on the state campus
Last Monday, students from Surigao del Sur left the campus on board three passenger vans sent by Governor Alexander Pimentel.
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