P1.5 million in rewards up on 3 attacks

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is offering a total of P1.5 million in rewards for information leading to the solution of three recent bombing attacks in Mindanao.

Two of the attacks targeted Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan and former Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the rewards aim to encourage witnesses or informants to come forward and help authorities identify those behind the bombings that killed two persons in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Sulu.

“We are offering a reward of P500,000 for information leading to the solution of each of these recent atrocities,” he said.

Ampatuan survived three roadside blasts last May 15 in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. The attack killed one of his farm workers and wounded three others.

Tan also survived a roadside bombing, but four of his security escorts were wounded.

Last May 15, armed men attacked Sitio Bangag, Barangay Basak in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, forcing some 200 families to flee their homes.

Police suspect that the slay attempt on Tan was in retaliation for the death of four Abu Sayyaf bandits in a military offensive in Patikul, Sulu.

Tan has been leading efforts to secure Red Cross volunteer Eugenio Vagni, an Italian, from the Abu Sayyaf, which has held him captive since Jan. 15.

Vagni’s two companions – Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter – earlier had walked free separately. – With Crestelle Pedrosa, Andrea Valino and Dennis Carcamo