All 4 Jolo bombing suspects yield to authorities, assert innocence

All four suspects caught on CCTV camera during the deadly twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu surrendered to authorities on Wednesday to clear their names.

According to Benjie Liwanag's report on Super Radyo dzBB, two persons of interest turned themselves in at the Sulu Provincial Police Office, as confirmed by Brigadier General Rey Divino Pabayo, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu.

In Super Radyo dzBB's Jonathan Andal's series of tweets earlier, two other men aged 24 and 18 surrendered to the police after seeking the assistance of local officials. One of the two was the one seen wearing a green jacket in the CCTV footage.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana said that at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Alshaber J. Arbi, 18, and Gerry Isnajil, a teacher, submitted themselves to the police provincial director to clear their name.

Arbi, a Grade 11 student, was the man in ponytail seen on the CCTV footages and Isnajil was the person in maroon cap with the red backpack, according to Besana.

At around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Besana said Alsimar Mohammad Albi, 24, of Barangay Bus-Bus, and Julius Abdulzam Albi, 17, of Barangay Takut-Takut, also turned themselves in and asserted they had nothing to do with the bombings.

Before the incident, the two went to a pharmacy to buy medicine for Alsimar's mother who was confined in a hospital in Sulu.

Pabayo clarified that alias Kamah, who authorities said was a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group's Ajang-ajang group, was not seen in the reviewed CCTV footage.

The Ajang-ajang is reportedly made up of mostly teenage bandits, who are said to be next generation members of the ASG.

The four persons of interest who surrendered will remain in the custody of the Joint Task Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation until they have been deemed innocent of the bloody attack, the radio report said.— Dona Magsino, Amita Legaspi/MDM/LDF,  GMA News