The Philippine National Police released on Friday a computer-generated facial composite of the “person of interest” in the recent bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Police said the composite image was put together using descriptions from two to three witnesses.
Based on the image, the suspect is from 20 to 25 years old, around 5-foot 6 inches to 5-foot 7 inches in height, has a medium build, likely weighs around 55 to 60 kilograms, and has a fair complexion.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the suspect could be identified by a fruit vendor from whom the suspect bought fruits before the incident.
The suspect was later known to have placed a bag and shoved it under a motorcycle of a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit member before the explosion, which killed three and wounded 30 others.
Police are also looking into other “persons of interest” who may be involved in the bombing.
Meanwhile, the Palace said Friday that talk about extending martial law in Mindanao is premature, despite the recent bomb attacks in Basilan and Sultan Kudarat.
At a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said there were still three months before the martial law expires at the end of the year, and that President Rodrigo Duterte would heed the advice of the military.
“Let’s assess [the situation] first… I am not in a position to substitute my decision for that of the men on the ground,” he said.
Roque, however, thanked House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya for expressing the readiness of Congress to support an extension, if the President seeks it.
“We thank Congress for their cooperation but as I said, the decision whether or not to extend [martial law] will be pursuant to a recommendation to be made by our security forces,” shared Roque.
On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said extending martial law remained an option in the wake of Tuesday night’s bomb attack that killed three people and wounded more than 30 others in the town of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Earlier, an attack in Lamitan, Basilan, killed 10 people and injured several others after an improvised car bomb detonated near a checkpoint.
Senator Francis Pangilinan said he saw no reason to extend martial law in Mindanao.
“The existing martial law proclamation failed to prevent the bombing, so why would an extension prevent a future bombing?” Pangilinan said.
He said good police work is needed to catch the perpetrators. And if necessary, the Armed Forces could also be called out without declaring martial law, he added.
“Up until now, the region is stricken by hunger due to the rice crisis and high prices of commodities. This requires immediate action, and martial law extension is definitely not [part of it],” Pangilinan added.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who is from Mindanao, said he wanted first to hear an explanation justifying any proposal to extend the martial law.
Pimentel said he also wanted to know how effective the current martial law declaration had been in keeping peace and order on the island.
“[Defense officials] must give a briefing. What’s happening? What have they done? How come, in spite of martial law being imposed in Mindanao, such an explosion in Sultan Kudarat happened?” Pimentel said.
But the public affairs officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Col. Noel Detoyato, said the attacks could have been worse if martial law were not in effect in the area.
In an interview with GMA-7, however, he refused to say if the military would recommend an extension of martial law in Mindanao.
On Thursday night, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the three dozen individuals injured in the bomb attack in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Tuesday were now out of danger.
“Out of the 36, 15 have been discharged from the hospital and all the rest who are still in the hospital are out of danger already,” Albayalde told newsmen during the 29th founding anniversary of the PNP Police Community Relations Group Thursday night.
Albayalde said one of the suspects in the Isulan bomb attack placed a satchel with the improvised explosive devise under a motorcycle owned by a militiaman in the area.
The suspect managed to escape with a motorcycle rider waiting for him after the bomb went off. With PNA