TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat (PNA) – One of the victims in the bombing of a Yellow Bus Lines (YBL) unit in Barangay New Isabela here on Sunday, Nov. 7, is a suspect and remains under close guarding by police in the hospital.
Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office-12 (Soccsksargen) chief, identified the suspect as Esmael Daomilang, 55, of Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The suspect, whose leg was amputated, was among the injured bus passengers.
“Statement of witnesses and pieces of gathered evidence pointed out to the gravely injured Daomilang as one of the suspects,” Macaraeg said.
One passenger died while 11 others were injured in the bombing.
The bus was on the way to the Tacurong bus terminal when a bomb went off from its rear.
“It was a case of a premature explosion that is why the victim-suspect was injured,” Col. Rogelio Raymundo Jr., head of Special Investigation Task Group-Yellow Bus, told DXOM-AM Radio in Koronadal City.
Macaraeg said a case for violation of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 has been filed against Daomilang at the City Prosecution Office.
Police had earlier said four women may have been responsible for transporting the explosive in the bus as they boarded in North Cotabato.
The women alighted before the vehicle reached Barangay New Isabela supposedly en route to the bus terminal.