ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/26 August) – The local government has allocated P100,000 as cash reward for anyone who can give information leading to the solution of the recent twin bombings here.
Seven people, including a seven-year-old boy, were injured when a bomb ripped through the rear portion of Rural Transit Management, Inc (RTMI) bus with body number 9224 while it was approaching the terminal in Baragany Guiwan evening of August 16.
Another bomb explosion followed around 10:45 p.m. of the same date outside a mosque in Suterville, Barangay Campo Islam but no one was reported killed or injured.
Senior Supt. James Mejia, Zamboanga City police officer-in-charge, said he was informed about the allocation of the cash reward by the city government during a security meeting Thursday at City Hall.
Mejia, who was designated head of Task Group 9224-Suterville, believes the cash reward would hasten the arrest of the suspects.
The task group was created to handle the investigation as well as the prosecution of the suspects.
The task group is looking for four persons, including a woman, who were believed to be behind the bombing of the passenger bus.
They boarded the bus in Barangay Culianan and disembarked when the bus stopped and unloaded passengers in front of a shopping mall in Barangay Putik.
The shopping mall is located several hundred meters away from the bus terminal in Barangay Guiwan.
One of the four is described as male, 29-32 years old, medium built, 5’5” to 5’6” in height, and with dark complexion based on the computer-generated artist sketch derived from the description by the bus conductor.
Mejia assured confidentiality on the names of the informers for their safety as well as that of their families. He said his office is open to anybody who would come and give information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects. (MindaNews)
