ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines — Police released to the public yesterday the investigation results and the close-circuit television (CCTV) footages of the Zamboanga airport explosion with details on how five suspects hatched the bombing last Thursday.
The alleged bomber and another person were killed while 24 others, including Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, were wounded after a bomb exploded at the Zamboanga City International Airport.
Initial reports said the bomb exploded at 6:22 p.m. after the Philippine Airlines flight from Manila arrived at the airport.
Authorities traced the explosive to the backpack carried by one of the two fatalities, Reynaldo Apilado.
Investigators said the explosion was not likely a case of suicide bombing because Apilado might have been duped into carrying the bag filled with explosives. Also killed was Hatimil Haron Yacob of Lantawan, Basilan who died while being treated at a private hospital. Police authorities are still determining if he is involved in the bombing. Gov. Tan believes he was the target of the explosion.
Police officials said evidence showed that the mastermind of the bombing used Apilado and Yacob to bring the bomb into the terminal.
Chief Supt. Edwin Corvera, director of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said it appeared that Apilado and Yacob were not aware of the real plan that included a meeting with a certain engineer and a mayor at the arrival area of the airport.
The CCTV footages showed the actual bombing outside the arrival area of the airport and investigators also disclosed that three of the five suspects stayed at a Zamboanga City hotel days before the bombing.
Corvera presented the CCTV footages and detailed the chronology of events and how five of the suspects made their rendezvous days prior to the actual bombing.
He identified the five suspects as Apilado, Yacob, Allan Sabuddin, and two unidentified suspects.
Sabuddin checked in with one male companion at room 220 of the Imperial Hotel along Campaner Street last July 27.
The next day, Yacob, Apilado and an unidentified male took over the said room and continued its payment until July 31.
On Aug. 1, the three transferred to a bigger room, room 203, and stayed until Aug. 5, the day of the explosion. Corvera said on Aug. 2 Apilado was traced to the house of his aunt, a certain Cornelia Apilado Hajirul, in Barangay Canelar to borrow money. He promised to pay her upon his return from Pagadian City and mentioned that they will leave anytime as he was just waiting for an engineer to arrive in Zamboanga City.
Apilado met an uncle identified as Rosendo Gonzaga, a jeepney driver, in front of the hotel last Aug. 3 and informed him of his plan and that he was staying at the Imperial hotel for 10 days.
Later in the afternoon, Apilado was seen in his residence at Barangay Karagasan in Zamboanga City in a drinking session with three companions. They later left on board a jeepney with route markings Sta. Catalina.
Corvera said it was later established that Yacob and Apilado were neighbors.
Apilado went to a videoke bar in R.T Lim Boulevard on Aug. 4 to visit his girlfriend, and promised to live with her upon his return from Pagadian City. He also told his girlfriend that he was staying at Imperial Hotel for the last 10 days.
Covera said based on the CCTV footage of the hotel, Apilado, Yacob and the unidentified companion checked out from the hotel on Aug. 5 and arrived at the airport at about 3:15 p.m. Apilado and Yacob were monitored by the CCTV about 6:05 p.m. outside the arrival area of the airport terminal, with Apilado carrying the backpack and standing in front of the gate of the arrival area. Minutes later the explosion occurred.
Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) for Western Mindanao chief Police Director Angelo Sunglao said based on the airport CCTV, Apilado’s movements appeared to be unsuspicious and he was not even worried.
“Apilado and Yacob might have been used, with the cover story of meeting an engineer or mayor,” Sunglao said.
“He (Apilado) seen standing, very relaxed, waiting for the supposed guy that was not even listed among the passengers,” Sunglao said.
He said investigators are trying to verify who handed Apilado the backpack that contained the bomb, as well as the identity of the third man who accompanied them to the airport.
Sunglao also believed that the mastermind in the bombing appeared to have knowledge of the turnover of provincial command in Sulu where Gov. Tan was guest.
AFP expects no spillover of bombing
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials expressed confidence yesterday that there would be no spill over to other parts of the country of the bombing at the airport in Zamboanga City last Thursday.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Jr. said investigations had revealed that the bombing might have been politically motivated and the violence is not likely to spread to Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has said last Thursday’s incident and the assassination attempt on Tan last year may be related.
He said the police would investigate three persons, including two of Tan’s political rivals, former Jolo councilor Temogen Tulawie and Moamar Askali. The third is known only by the name “Abs.”
The three were linked to an attempt to assassinate Tan on May 13, 2009. They reportedly went into hiding after the failed assassination attempt, which injured four of the governor’s bodyguards.
“We feel that this (incident) is only an isolated case. Apparently, initial investigations reveal that this may be political in nature… For one, the target apparently is a political personality,” Mabanta told radio station dzBB.
“I don’t think there will be any spillover. We can see that the intention may be political,” he added.
Mabanta said the circumstances of the incident reveal that terrorists were not behind the airport bombing.
He said the explosive came from a bag in contrast with suicide bombers’ practice of placing bombs on their bodies.
“There are also indications that it was prematurely detonated. The maximum intention of inflicting casualty was not attained,” Mabanta said.
The AFP spokesman, nevertheless, said the public should not be complacent about the threats posed by terrorist groups.
“Of course the threats are always there but we are ready. Our forces are deployed in possible hotspots,” Mabanta said.
“We ask the public to be more vigilant and report to the authorities any suspicious looking elements in their environment,” he added.
Mabanta said the AFP Western Mindanao Command is in control of the situation and is continuously pursuing those behind the bombing.
The PNP has asked the military and intelligence agencies to conduct manhunt operations against the three suspects Tulawie, Askali and Abs even as investigators are establishing their actual participation in the bombing.
Meanwhile, Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong condemned the bombing and extended his sympathies to the victims and their families, including Gov. Tan, “for experiencing another heinous act in their midst.”
“This latest bombing incident is another cowardly and un-Islamic act that deserves the strongest form of condemnation,” Loong said in a statement. “Only the most cruel and merciless are capable of such acts that victimized ordinary travelers and their innocent families.”
He said the ongoing investigation must be thorough to determine the real culprits of the bombing, “so that justice may be immediately served.”
“I request, however, that authorities from desisting in using haphazard methods in investigating the bombing incident. The true perpetrators of the crime must be arrested and not any fall guys they will just pick up from the streets,” he said.
– With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero