Cotabato blast suspect now under police custody

One of the two suspects in the recent bombing incident in a mall in Cotabato City has been placed under the custody of the police, Philippine National Police Soccsksargen Regional Director Chief Superintendent Eliseo Rasco said on Tuesday.

The suspect was identified as Salipudin Pasandalan, a 56-year-old native of Maguindanao, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on Super Radyo dzBB.

PHOTO: Isa sa mga suspek sa pagpapasabog sa isang mall sa Cotabato City noong bisperas ng Bagong Taon, hawak na ng mga pulis — PNP region 12 director C/Supt. Eliseo Rasco. | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/YgXjcLg79Y

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 8, 2019

Rasco was quoted as saying in a press briefing in Camp Crame that Pasandalan was turned in by his relatives after his photo was seen on television and has been tagged as one of the perpetrators of the blast.

Pasandalan allegedly served as the lookout of another cohort who left the improvised explosive device (IED) in front of South Seas mall on December 31.

The IED blast claimed two lives and injured at least 34 others.

The suspect, on the other hand, denied the accusation.

An investigation is ongoing and the police have yet to pinpoint the motive behind the bombing incident. —Dona Magsino/KG, GMA News