InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE 3 – 4:52 p.m.) Police on Thursday filed double murder and six frustrated murder charges murder against two suspects in the August 15 car bomb attack on the convoy of Maguindanao Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu early this week.
Two people - Maguindanao board member Datu Rusman Sinsuat, whose vehicle bore the brunt of the explosion, and tricycle driver Raffy Parenas - were killed and six others, including Sinsuat’s son Rusman Jr., were wounded when the bomb, crafted from a howitzer shell and planted in a Kia Avella, detonated at the rotunda of the national highway in Tacuron City, Sultan Kudara as Mangudadatu’s convoy passed by.
The Maguindanao governor and his party were on their way to celebrate his birthday.
Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta, Sultan Kudarat provincial police chief, said the charges were filed before the Tacurong City prosecutor’s office against a certain JR Reyes, the alleged owner of the car where the bomb was planted, and Karim Masdal, who was arrested as he apparently tried to flee from the scene.
Masdal, 33, of Guindulungan, Maguindanao, was arrested just 50 meters from the blast site when the tricycle driver he had asked to take him away reported him instead to authorities. Witnesses said they saw Masdal, a mobile phone in hand, park the Avella and then run away from the car.
Acting Philippine National Police chief Nicanor Bartolome said investigators are at a loss about Reyes and said the suspect may have used a fake identity.
"Until lately he cannot be accounted by our operatives in the field. The special investigating task group has already consulted some agencies to find out some details but up to now they have not taken hold of any record on file, like civil registrar, Comelec (Commission on Elections), and SSS (Social Security System). Apparently, the name JR Reyes must have been fictitious," he said.
On Wednesday, police released the composite sketch of Reyes, who bought the car from a taxi company on August 5. He is reportedly from Cotabato City.
At the same time, investigators have officially ruled out terrorism and the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the attack on Mangudadatu's convoy.
Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, Region 12 police director, said although they are still trying to determine the motive for the attack, a personal grudge against Mangudadatu, who escaped unhurt, could be one of the reasons. (with additional reports from Erel Cabatbat, News5)
