The Soccsksargen police has announced the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to fast track the investigation of an improvised explosive device (IED) attack at a passenger bus on Sunday that killed one and wounded 11 others in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 Director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraig has ordered to formation of the SITG as they already have a person of interest and the possible motive of extortion in the bombing of a Yellow Bus Line (YBL) unit in Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong.
Fajardo said that prior to the bombing incident two days ago, the management of the Yellow Bus Company received a call from an unidentified suspect extorting money from the bus company.
“According to the case conference, they already have a person of interest. They are looking at the possibility of this year’s bus bombing involving the Yellow Bus Line Company, they are looking at the possibility of extortion,” Fajardo told reporters in a news briefing on Monday at Camp Crame.
She added the SITG created for that purpose is also suspecting at least two groups operating in Mindanao area, particularly in the province of Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
“Because in the previous bombing incident recorded in that province, they identified that one group there, particularly the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters whose members were involved in the previous bombings. And they are still looking at this group which is another group that might have collaborated and conspired with this group, to initiate this kind of atrocity in the region,” said Fajardo.