2 persons of interest in MSU bombing – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Police released yesterday photos of two persons of interest in the Dec. 3 bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City that killed four persons and wounded 50 others.

Col. Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police public information officer, said the two are believed to be associates of Dawlah Islamiya-Maute terrorist group members Kadapi  Mimbesa, alias Engineer, and Arsani Membisa, also known as Lapitos, who were tagged in the bombing.

Fajardo said a reward of P1 million has been offered to identify the two persons of interest.

The two, who were on a motorcycle, were captured by closed-circuit television cameras at the scene.

One of them was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and a bull cap and carrying a bag, believed to contain an explosive. His companion was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt.

Citing witnesses’ account, Fajardo said the two had coffee before they entered the gymnasium.

The two reportedly left the gymnasium without the bag.

Fajardo said the man wearing a white shirt appeared to call someone on his cell phone, an indication that it was the bomb’s detonating device.

She said police received reports that it was at the house of Jafar Sultan, who was arrested by the military on Dec. 11, where the perpetrators planned the bombing at MSU.

Two other members of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute terror group, a certain Maausor and Monatanda, were apprehended in Lumbayanague town in Lanao del Sur on Dec. 9 based on warrants for murder.

Fajardo said it has yet to be determined if Maausor and Monatanda were involved in the bombing.

Academic leniency

Meanwhile, the MSU board of regents ordered the university to implement academic leniency for students affected by the blast, by giving them “incomplete” instead of failing grades and allowing them another semester to complete the academic requirements.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III said the measure was in consideration of the “emotional and psychological impact of the horrific MSU-Marawi bombing incident.”

“As a policy adopted by the board of regents, students who are distressed and traumatized, especially those who underwent counseling and who feel they cannot continue their studies, will be given a non-numerical grade and another semester to complete their requirements. We need to address the mental health situation of the students,” De Vera, concurrent chairman of the MSU board of regents, said.

MSU president Basari Mapupuno said the university would ensure that students whose studies are being sponsored by government institutions and organizations would not lose their scholarships because of their incomplete grades.

Classes resumed on Dec. 11 with tight security measures and heightened police and military presence.

CHED said it would provide additional financial assistance to affected students by including them as beneficiaries of the Tulong Dunong program.

“While we are advancing our instruction, research and extension, we will not lower our guard in protecting our students,” Mapupuno said.

Aid to victims

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez reiterated the government’s assurance to assist in the long-term recovery of the victims of the bombing at MSU.

He said the government “shall leave no stone unturned” to ensure that the victims get the justice they deserve and are provided with the assistance they need to recover from the incident and rebuild their lives.

Galvez said his office, through its Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program, will ramp up its peacebuilding interventions in Marawi. –  Neil Jayson Servallos, Rainier Allan Ronda