Davao mayor relieves police chief and military official, offers P2m reward
The police chief of Davao City and the commander of a military force were relieved of their posts following the explosion that struck a night market Friday evening, city mayor Sarah Duerte announced on Monday.
In a TV interview, the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte said she has put up a two million peso reward for information which will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the bombing.
“We want the suspects delivered to us because we want to know who are the other personalities involved in the attack,” she said in a TV interview.
Four persons, two men and two women, are being eyed as suspects. Investigators in Davao City have a sketch of one of the suspects, a bearded man who allegedly left the package which exploded. A police task group has not released the sketch to media.
"We are still improving it (sketch) through corroboration of other witnesses," Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, regional police director, said in a text message to reporters.
Relieved were Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria as city police chief and Col Henry Robinson of Task Force Davao. Duterte said she will just have strained relations with them if they will remain in their posts as she took the bombing personally.
Lt. Gen Eduardo Ano, Army chief, said there are no (papers) yet on Robinson’s relief but the basis of his relief is command responsibility.
At least 14 people died and over 60 injured during the blast which police say may have been caused by drug lords paying off the Abu Sayyaf to trigger the attack.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said 55 remain hospitalized. “We are hoping that the 55 hospitalized now will actually survive,” said Rosell-Ubial in a press briefing at Malacanang.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa raised the possibility drug lords could have paid off the Abu Sayyaf in conducting such attack in President Duterte's hometown.
"The Abu Sayyaf is just after money. They are into kidnapping for money. If you are a rich drug lord you can ask them to conduct bombings," Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame.
Duterte launched a brutal war against illegal drugs where over 2,000 people have been killed in what police operations and by vigilante groups. He also ordered state security forces to attack Abu Sayyaf rebels based in Sulu in the wake of the group's recent terrorist attacks which included beheading of hostages.
Asked if these drug lords he was referring to are those inside New Bilibid Prison, Dela Rosa said: "Not only from Bilibid but only those outside."
Dela Rosa earlier hinted on Saturday the incident could have been brought by narco-terrorism.
On an intelligence report saying four Muslim women from Basilan were sent by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon to conduct suicide bombing attacks on soft targets in Manila and Davao City, Dela Rosa said this is being validated.
The report also stated the bombers will look for opportunities to assassinate Duterte and Dela Rosa. They were believed to be hiding in a Muslim community in Quezon City.
"The woman will wear traditional Muslim attire while carrying out the attacks because they believed due to their faith, officials will be prohibited from conducting searches and that they will easily be able to mingle and blend into crowds in an attempt to get close to their intended targets," the report said.
National Capital Region director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde admitted receiving an intel report on the four women allegedly sent by Hapilon.
"We are validating that and have disseminated it to our intelligence operatives and line units here in Metro Manila," said Albayalde in an interview over GMA News on Monday. Emmanuel Tupas, Robina Asido, Celerina Monte
