3rd victim in Lamitan blast dies

The third victim in the M/V Doña Ramona blast died on Monday night several days after an improvised bomb exploded inside the vessel, which left 28 persons wounded in Basilan. The third fatality was identified as Emmanuel Torres, 18, student and a resident of Brgy. Lamitan, Basilan. He died at around 9 p.m. Monday at the Davao Hospital while undergoing treatment.

Earlier the two other victims Isnain Ormo, 30, and Sonny Hamac died at the Brent Hospital in Zamboanga City, said Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil.

Ormo’s death brings to two the number of fatalities in the blast at the M/V Doña Ramona on Aug. 28 while about to leave the Lamitan wharf in Basilan.

A bomb exploded at the kitchen area of the ferryboat bound for Zamboanga City at around 7 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators in the local police station are eyeing motives such as terrorism, sabotage/extortion and business rivalry in the explosion inside the M/V Doña Ramona in a wharf in Lamitan, Basilan. But veteran intelligence officer ruled out business rivalry because M/V Doña Ramona does not have any rival vessel for the Lamitan-Zamboanga route for a long time.

The source said terrorism is the strongest motive to be pursued by the Task Force Lamitan, headed by Chief Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala, who is in close coordination with the Crisis Management Committee.

"They (bombers) are Abu Sayyaf Group based in Basilan. They used low explosive device due to lack of funds. They put the explosives in the kitchen thinking that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks in the vessel serve as ignition that could burn the entire ship," the source noted. Fortunately, the source said the explosion did not have any reaction to other flammable and explosive materials in the ship.

Investigation showed that a witness spotted an unidentified suspect reportedly placing a box on top of the counter of the ship’s canteen and left hastily. About five minutes later, the box exploded.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said an artist sketch of the man, who allegedly placed the explosive, will be released as soon as it is completed. He said that investigators have interviewed some of the victims, who are still in the hospital to complete the sketch.