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Authorities have arrested four more suspects of the bloody Davao City bombing in a simultaneous law enforcement operation in Cotabato City early Saturday morning.
Col. Benjamin Hao, Philippine Army spokesman, said the arrested suspects were Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil alyas Datu Boi; Jackson Mangulamas Usi alyas Abu Mansor/Jam; Zack Villanueva Lopez alyas Haron, and; Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alyas Abu Hamsa.
He said the four were reportedly members of the Dawla Islamiya Fi Cotabato of the local terrorist Maute Brothers Group.
Hao said the suspects were captured in a simultaneous law enforcement operation by police and military forces at the vicinity of Southern Philippine Development Authority (SPDA) Compound in Brgy. Tamontaka, and along Ilang-Ilang St., Brgy. Rosary Hts. 7, both in Cotabato City around 2:40 am Saturday.
“The locations of the group hideouts were identified through the information relayed by an action agent and collaborated by the follow-up operations made after the arrest last October 4 of the three suspects of the Davao bombing incident, namely, TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Factural, and Musaili Mustapha,” he said.
Hao said the arrest was made through a search warrant for violating the law on firearms and ammunition by Executive Judge Banzawan Z Ibrahim of the Cotabato Regional Trial Court
He also noted authorities recovered several war materials during the search operation, this includes a cal .45 pistol with a defaced serial number, chamber loaded with an ammunition; one cal .38 pistol; six rounds, ammo for cal .45; five rounds ammo for cal .38; one piece of magazine assembly for cal .45; a handheld radio with charger; five boxes of ammo for 5.56mm firearm; three pieces of 60mm mortar improvised explosive devices; one piece of 105mm howitzer improvised explosive device, and; a hand grenade.
Hao said authorities are still working to arrest other suspects as reports revealed there were more than a dozen personalities involved in the Davao bombing last September 2.
“We will not stop until all involved in the Davao bombing incident last September are put in jail,” Lt. Gen. Eduardo A?o, Philippine Army chief, said.
“The Army will continue haunting other terrorists for the protection of the public and to serve justice,” he added.
Hao said the four suspects are under custody of the local police to facilitate legal procedures. Robina Asido/DMS
