Police said bombers have used a 60-millimeter mortar in the improvised explosive device (IED) that went off during a Holy Mass inside the Dimaporo Gymnasium of Mindanao State University-Marawi Campus on Sunday, December 3, 2023, which killed four people and wounded more than 45 others.

However, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) Director, Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, said no parts of the triggering device have been recovered so far.

Authorities also could not confirm the perpetrators behind the bomb attack.

“During the crime scene investigation wala pong nakitan doon na mga circuit board o timer na magsasabi na activated thru remote control. As of now na-rule out na namin yung na it was not a body-worn IED o body-worn operation,” Nobleza said.

AFP Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr., said investigators are looking into all angles that will lead to the identity of the bombers.

Brawner was in Marawi City for a command conference and security briefing.

“Whether these are foreigners coming to the Philippines and doing the attack or whether affiliated groups of foreign terrorist groups or even foreign directed so we are looking at everything, we cannot be conclusive at this time,” Brawner said.

Brawner also clarified the earlier statement of Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

“Ang sinabi po ng ating SND is there are foreign elements na tinitignan natin dito when we say foreign elements maaring foreign terrorist, maaring foreign ideology maaring foreign technology so tinitignan po natin ang lahat ng mga anggulong ito,” he added.

Government forces have beefed up security measures in Marawi City with more policemen and military personnel to ensure public safety and security.

“An additional policemen will be seen on the streets doing visibility it means intensified conduct of the checkpoint operations and other anti-criminality operations,” Nobleza said.