MARAWI CITY – The Philippine National Police has created a Special Investigation Task Group to investigate the explosion in a Mindanao State University gymnasium that killed four persons on Sunday, December 3.
PNP chief Police Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the SITG is led by Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LDSPPO) director Police Col. Robert Daculan.
ACORDA (PNP FB)
Acorda said that a company of soldiers will be deployed in addition to the augmentation force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to intensify the security of the State university and guarantee the students of their safety while inside the campus.
He vowed to restore order within MSU. “We want to bring back normalcy as soon as possible, and we are keeping our assurance sa mga estudyante at (to the students and) school officials that the PNP and AFP as the security forces are here. We are ready, and we will do our best,” Acorda said.
Acorda said that they are looking into the motives for the incident, the kind of explosive used, and persons of interest.
Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) director Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza said they are considering all possible angles in the incident, among which were the encounters in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur where 11 Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group members were killed and Basilan where an Abu Sayyaf Group bomber was shot dead.
Major Gen. Gabriel Viray III, 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division commanding officer, said they are investigating if the bombing is a retaliation for the death of DI-MG sub-leader Alandoni Macadaya Lucsadato in a gun battle with the military in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.
Viray advised the people within their jurisdiction to collaborate with them as security is everyone’s concern. “Report to us any untoward incident or suspicious people roaming around the city. The AFP together with the police is committed to securing the whole province of Lanao del Sur,” he said.