DOJ tags Talitay vice mayor in Davao blast

MANILA - Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanaowill be charged in connection with the Sept. 2 Davao City night market bombing, the Justice department today said.Sabal, his wife Mohanna Mamalo, body guard Nasser Maulana and his driver Norodin Abas, were arrested by CIDG-ARMM at Cotabato airport on Friday.Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II they are now being investigated for alleged involvement in the recent bombing in Davao City.Aguirre said theywere presented for inquest to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The suspects faced possiblecharges of illegal possession of firearms, explosives and dangerous drugs. Sabal and his elder brother, Mayor Montasir Sabal of Talitay, were among the eight local officials of Maguindanao named publicly by President Duterte as narco-politicians.Police Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa said Sabal was linked by three suspects earlier arrested in Davao City following the bombing that left 14 dead and 71 injured.Dela Rosa said the suspects were allegedly hired by Sabal to set off the explosives in Davao City to retaliate on Duterte for naming them as narco-politicians.The Maguindanao police provincial office saidan improvised bomb made ofa 60 mm mortar, two cal. 45 pistols, an M-16 Armalite rifle and 12 sachets of suspected shabu from Sabal's group.