MARAWI CITY – The Philippine National Police has identified two persons of interest in the bombing at the Mindanao State University gym on Sunday, December 3.
ARSANI Mimbesa (Photo via Bonita Ermac)
In a press conference here on December 6, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region chief Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza identified the POIs as Kadapi Mimbesa, alias “Engineer,” 35, of Barangay Gacap, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, and Arsani Mimbesa, alias “Khatab,” “Hatab,” and “Lapitos,” of Barangay Gacap, Piagapo.
Nobleza said Kadapi is a bomb expert of the Dawlah-Islamiyah-Maute Group and facing cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and illegal possession of explosives. Kadapi has a P600,000 reward for his arrest.
Arsani is a DI-Maute Group member operating Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and wanted for murder.
They are listed in the police Periodic Static Report in the first quarter of 2018.
Suspects were seen riding a motorcycle during the incident.
Kadapi was wearing white long-sleeved shirt, gray pants, bull cap with white face mask, and black bag and was the back rider.
Arsani, on the other hand, was wearing black long sleeves with hood, red bull cap, maong pants, and black face mask driver and the driver.
They were sighted at 6:27 a.m. on their way to the gym before the incident.
The suspects entered the gym at around 7:03 a.m. and left the area onboard a motorcycle at 7:11 a.m., two minutes before the explosion at 7:13 a.m.
KADAPI Mimbesa (Photo via Bonita Ermac)
Arsani was seen holding a keypad cellular phone believed to have been used as a command or remote control in arming the bomb before the incident.
A witness told police that Kadapi was seated on her right side, uneasy and acting suspiciously and calling somebody.
"He was uneasy, di siya mapakali, while his left hand was fixing something under the chair,” the witness said.
Although Kadapi was wearing face mask, the witness identified him because they glanced at each other.
"So, nakilala niya sa mata itong taong ito, pati iyong physical built pati iyong height niya," said Nobleza.
Police presented three different photos to the witness and positively identified Kadapi.
Manhunt for the suspects is ongoing and a Special Investigation Task Group has been created to fast-track the investigation and file appropriate charges against the suspects and a third cohort who is yet to be identified.