FBI helping local authorities in probe of Zamboanga bombing

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are assisting the local law enforcement agencies investigating the bombing at the Zamboanga International Airport last week.

This developed as the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it would soon identify the mastermind behind the bombing that killed two of the suspects and wounded 24 others, including Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan who was believed to be the target of the attack.

Investigators disclosed that FBI agents based in the Philippines have assisted investigators in the enhancement of the close-circuit television (CCTV) footage that led to the identification of those who participated in the bombing outside the arrival area of the airport.

Senior Supt. Danilo Abadiano, chief of the 9th Police Civil Aviation Security (PCAS), said the FBI has also promised to help modernize the old CCTV equipment of the airport.

Abadiano said the present CCTV surveillance camera at the airport was donated in 2004 by the US government and had malfunctioned some years back until it was restored by his office, but the equipment still needs enhancement.

“The FBI agents are assisting us on how to upgrade the surveillance equipment,” Abadiano said.The bomb exploded at 6:22 p.m. last Thursday after a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila arrived at the airport.

Authorities traced the explosive to the backpack carried by one of the two fatalities, Reynaldo Apilado.

Investigators said the explosion was not likely a case of suicide bombing because Apilado might have been duped into carrying the bag filled with explosives.

Also killed was the second suspect Hatimil Haron Yacob of Lantawan, Basilan who died while being treated at a private hospital.

Police officials said evidence showed that the mastermind of the bombing used Apilado and Yacob to bring the bomb to the terminal.

Chief Superintendent Edwin Corvera, police director of Region 9, said that aside from Apilado and Yacob, another suspect has been identified as Allan Sabuddin.

Sabuddin is still at large and a manhunt was launched to get him.

Corvera said that aside from the three suspects, the police are also looking at two other individuals.

Senior Supt. Edwin Diocos, CIDG 9 chief, said the gathering of evidence is almost complete and investigators are now waiting for witnesses that will help identify the mastermind of the bombing.

“We are close to unveiling the mastermind of the bombing even as we have already identified those involved in the planning and organizing of the bombing attack,” Diocos said.

He said that at the moment they could not reveal the identity of the possible mastermind, pending the witness account that will pin down the suspect.

Diocos said while they are trying to have a speedy resolution of the blooy case, they are not rushing things to avoid lapses that might give the prime suspect a chance to escape.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said officials of the Crisis Management Committee are planning to put up a reward for information leading to the arrest of the other suspects in the bombing. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe