Police release sketches of Zambo bombing suspects

ZAMBOANGA City– The local police authorities have released the computer-generated sketches of the two people behind Thursday night’s bombing in this city.

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, Zamboanga City police director, said in a press conference Monday at City Hall that they were able to come up with the sketches based on the description given by witnesses.

Casimiro said both suspects are males and one of them is described as with dark complexion; weight, 70 to 75 kilograms (kg); age, 45 to 50; built, medium; and, height, 5’4” to 5’5”.

He said the second suspect has the following description: complexion, fair; weight, 65 to 70 kg; age, 50 to 55; built, medium; and, height, 5’2” to 5’4”.

He disclosed that prior to the bomb explosion, the suspects went to the Manly massage parlor and KTV bar looking for Geraldine Miguel.

Miguel was killed while 10 others were wounded when a bomb exploded around 9:47 p.m. last Thursday at the Manly KTV bar and massage parlor along San Jose Road in Barangay Zone II, this city.

Casimiro had said Miguel was the main target of the suspects because she is one of the witnesses of the case they filed against the suspects behind the November 9, 2014 bombing of the Deluxe massage parlor and videoke bar along Tomas Claudio Street downtown.

The November 9 bomb explosion has injured a policeman assigned with the explosive ordnance demolition (EOD) and “Diego,” the bomb-sniffing dog.

Casimiro said the suspects in Thursday night’s bomb explosion are suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group that threatened to stage attacks against government forces, who are on rest and recreation in this city.

Casimiro said the attacks are in retaliation to the continuous law enforcement operations against the ASG in the province of Sulu. (pna)