BOMB SITE. Photo shows the site of the Sept. 7, 2019 bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat that wounded seven persons. A Swedish national and six other suspects were charged before the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday (Oct. 3, 2019) in connection with the incident. (Photo courtesy of Isulan MPS)
COTABATO CITY – A special investigation body formed by the Police Regional Office (PRO-12) on Thursday has filed charges of multiple frustrated murder before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office against seven suspects linked to the Sept. 7 bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpuz, PRO-12 director, said two of the suspects remain at large and now the subject of an intensified manhunt by joint police and military operatives.
Corpuz formed the police-led Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Manolette after a powerful improvised landmine went off in front of Manolette Bakeshop located near the Isulan public market.
He said five of the suspects were suspected to be sympathizers or members of the Islamic State-linked Dawlah Islamiya group.
He identified the four suspects nabbed in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat on Sept. 23 as Normia Antao Camsa, Norshiya Joven Camsa, Abedin Camsa alias “Beds,” and the Swedish national, Hassan Akgun. Guns, bullets and improvised bombs, including a black ISIS flag, were seized from them.
Hours later, police also nabbed Kamlon Tongab Camsa alias “Kamlono”, vice-chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Sabiwang State Revolutionary Committee, at a police checkpoint in General Santos City with two hand grenades in his bag.
Kamlon denied he owned the explosives.
He said that he was on his way to attend a seminar of farmers and irrigators association. But Lt. Colonel Capellan, speaking for PRO-12 said a security camera footage clearly showed that the grenades were found in Kamlon’s backpack. Kamlon also denied any hand in the Isulan bombing.
Corpuz said two other suspects Rashid Joven Camsa and Maira Tungab Alimao, who were also named in the complaint remained at large.
“I am calling out to the public: should you have any information with regards to these suspects, to please, do not hesitate to report to your local authorities,” Corpuz said in a statement. (PNA)
