The provincial government of North Cotabato offers P100,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of suspects behind Thursday’s bus bombing in Matalam town that killed 10 persons and injured 30 others.
North Cotabato Governor Emmylou J. Talino-Mendoza said the reward was announced Friday even as police and military operations went underway in Central Mindanao in hot pursuit of the bombers.
Mendoza met with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Raul M. Bacalzo in Kidapawan City on Friday to discuss developments of the ongoing investigation into the bomb attack that has been widely condemned by the civil society and the national leadership.
A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was organized composed of investigators, forensic examiners and ordnance experts from North Cotabato Provincial Police Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Army’s 61st Explosive Ordnance Division.
During the meeting, Bacalzo reiterated to local officials and concerned government agencies to observe the security measures to prevent similar incidents, particularly against the practice of allowing passengers to board without inspection, and the thorough inspection of all passengers and cargo in bus terminals.
Witnesses claimed at least three suspects disembarked the bus moments before the bomb went off while the bus was traveling across Barangay Dalapitan, Matalam town on Thursday morning.
“Our justice system assures certainty of punishment to those behind this attack on innocent civilians. The long arm of the law will pursue them wherever and whoever they are†Bacalzo said.
Bacalzo was in Kidapawan City on Friday on a field sortie in Central and Southern Mindanao to assess the readiness of PNP units to assume election duties as deputies of the Comelec.
About 42,000 barangays (villages) across the country elect their village officials and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders on Monday.
The Chief PNP has directed all PNP units to step-up checkpoint operations to prevent the movement of armed individuals and other election law violators who might cause violence on Monday’s local polls.
As part of the PNP’s election security operations, the “HOPE 2010-Bravo Election Monitoring and Media Center was activated in Camp Crame on Friday to facilitate release of timely and accurate information on election activities and security situation nationwide.
PNP Spokesperson, Sr. Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. said the Media Center would provide tri-media representatives with up-to-date information and current data on police operations and election security issues. -PNA
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Topic: Award for Info of Bus Bomber Offered (Read 487 times)