PNP not discounting terrorism as motive in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat blast

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac on Monday said authorities are not yet discounting the possibility that the explosion incident in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat was a terror attack.

At a press conference, Banac said investigation is still ongoing as regards the blast which wounded seven people. However, as of this time, Banac said it seems extortion was the motive of the incident.

"Patuloy nating iniimbestigahan kasi ang ginamit dito ay improvised explosive device," Banac said.

"Kapag mga ganitong insidente, kailangan nating matukoy sino ang may gawa, maaaring ito ay binili nila sa isang grupo na may kaugnayan sa mga terrorist. Ganoon ang direksyon ng ating imbestigasyon pero mas nakikita natin na ito ay kuwan lang, extortion," he added.

Lieutenant Colonel Joven Bagaygay, chief of the Isulan police, has said CCTV footage of the incident showed that the suspect who left the explosive device in front of a bakery was a man who had disguised as a woman.

He added that the suspect possibly belonged to the same group that recently threatened to bomb the town if the local government would refuse to pay them extortion money regularly.

“They are asking P250,000 monthly from the [local government unit],” Bagaygay had said.

The military has condemned the incident and vowed to run after the perpetrators of the explosion.

Following the incident, Banac assured the public that the police, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), have intensified its security measures in the area.

"Lalong pinaigting ng PNP ang intelligence monitoring, of course ang security... katuwang natin ang AFP diyan upang lalo pang mapataas ang security awareness ng ating mga kababayan," he said.

"Ito ay mga kaganapan lamang sa Western Mindanao at walang dapat ikabahala ang ating mga kababayan dito sa bahagi ng Luzon o Visayas, contained naman ang threat doon sa bahagi ng Western Mindanao," Banac said. — RSJ, GMA News