2 grilled on US embassy bombing

MANILA, Philippines – Police are questioning two persons of interest in connection with an improvised explosive device (IED) found near the US embassy last Monday.

One of the suspects was identified as Rayson Kilala, alias Rashid Kilala, 34, from Bulacan, according to Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino.

The other suspect, whose name was not immediately available, is from Caloocan City.

A team of police officers from the Manila Police District (MPD), Bulacan Provincial Public Safety Company and Bulakan municipal police station went to Kilala’s residence in Barangay Bagumbayan at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday to invite him for questioning.

Kilala was brought to MPD headquarters to undergo custodial investigation.

National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde clarified that the two men were not arrested, as no charges have been filed against them yet.

“We will present them to our witnesses for identification. As of now, we cannot pinpoint yet if he is the one who left the bomb along Roxas Boulevard,” Albayalde said.

He said the two were located a day after the police released a sketch of the two persons of interest.

He said the police invitation for Kilala was based on information supplied by several sources, including the intelligence community.

The NCRPO chief said they might come up with an official statement today from the Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

Albayalde said they were still verifying if Kilala is a member of the Maute terror gang tagged in the Davao night market bombing last September where 15 died. – With Robertzon Ramirez, Ramon Efren Lazaro