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Authorities eye 6 persons of interest in Jolo blasts — Esperon


Authorities are eyeing six persons of interest behind the gruesome bombings at  Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Monday.

"We are looking at some persons of interests dun sa CCTV sa nakita namin but nothing is conclusive yet but their actions seem to tell us that mukhang may participation sila dun.. dalawang grupo, so far anim, six of them," Esperon said in an interview on CNN-Philippines, describing that these persons were seen suspiciously walking away from the cathedral after the explosions.

Esperon said that one person of interest was identified to be related to a terrorist group's commander, further details of which he refused to disclose for now to prevent pre-empting the ongoing probe.

Aside from the possible suspects caught on CCTV, other leads are being investigated based on the reports from the intelligence community, he added.

The military had previously said that the Abu Sayyaf subgroup Ajang-Ajang may possibly have a hand in the attack which claimed at least 20 lives and injured dozens of others.

"Ajang-Ajang, ito 'yung mga anak ng mga dating Abu Sayyaf so talagang probable silang suspects, support-support hindi ibig sabihin bagong grupo 'yan kundi Ajang-Ajang means dati nang related," Esperon said.

Different angles on the motives for the bombing incident are still being investigated considering the long history of conflict and unrest in Jolo.

Moreover, given that martial law is being implemented in Mindanao, Esperon said that a probe on security measures that have been carried out in the entry and exit points of Jolo is being conducted to further improve security operations in the area. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News

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