Davao PNPand Extortion likely motive in van bombing
• 17:25 PM Thu Nov 19, 2015
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SOCO Davao agents conducting post blast probe. (photo courtesy of Ariel Solis)
COTABATO CITY --Davao City police authorities believed the bombing
of a passenger van on Wednesday was triggered by extortion activities of Pikit-based
lawless individuals who have been mulcting the van operator.
Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz, Davao City Police Office
spokesperson, said the van owner, Gregorio Guerrero who is based in, North
Cotabato, admitted he has been receiving extortion demand from an armed group
so that the vehicle will not be subjected to harassment, including bombings.
We are looking at several angles, but extortion was
the most likely motive,” Driz told DXMS-AM Radyo Bida in a phone interview.
The passenger van from Pikit NOrth Cotabato where an IED exploded at 940 am Nov 18 2015 Photo by Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte and//www.ndbcnews.com.ph/uploads/1447822675_1618598957.jpg (Photo courtesy of Davao City Vice Mayor Paulo Duterte) Driz said the van driver Herman Daagand conductor Albert Basanez,both sustained
minor injuries and already out of danger.The white Toyota D4D van with license plate MVW-553
had left Pikit, North Cotabato at 5:30 a.m.
It has only four passengers as it entered the SM terminal in
Ecoland.
It just offloaded passengers at SM terminal then
proceeded at the back of the mall where the driver and his aide were to take
breakfast when the IED exploded,” Driz said.
Two other vehicles were also hit by shrapnel from an
IED fashioned from 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as triggering device.
Driz said Guerrero and Daag have repeatedly been
receiving threats from extortion gang unless they give protection money.”
We also look at business rivalry as the motive
since many vans were considered strikers and were not members of passenger van
operators association,” she said.
Davao City Vice Mayor Palo Pulong” Duterte has
called on all Davawenios to be on guard and cooperate with the authorities.