COTABATO CITY, Philippines ---- Authorities released Wednesday the photos of three suspects in the deadly car bomb explosion here that left eight dead and injured more than 30 others.
The city’s police director, Senior Supt, Rolen Balquin, however, declined to reveal the names of the three suspected bombers, pending the outcome of their continuing investigation on the identities and affiliations of the suspects.
Balquin added that they are still trying to determine the motive for the August 5 roadside bombing here, the worst ever in the city’s more than 50-year history.
The photos of the three suspects were presented to reporters in a press briefing jointly presided over by Balquin, Col. Costudio Parcon, Jr., who is commanding officer of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, and Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., chairman of the city peace and order council.
Guiani, during the press conference, appealed to the city’s various communities to help the police and the military determine the motive for the bombing by providing investigators with information about the incident.
The mayor had earlier said he is convinced that the target of the roadside bombing along Sinsuat Avenue here was his younger sister, City Administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.
The car packed with explosives reportedly made up of ammonium nitrate mixed with petroleum went off just as Sayadi's convoy was passing through.
Balquin and Guiani also both appealed to the public to avoid speculating on the incident and allow investigators to continue their probe on the incident.