Suspect in bloody Bukidnon bus bombing from Kidapawan City
Breaking News • 15:38 PM Sat Dec 13, 2014
2,403
By:
Williamor Magbanua with Edwin Fernandez
Bukidnon PNP releases the cartographic sketch and police file photo of Macmod Manibpil , believed to behind the bus bombing on Dec. 9. The photo grab from ABS-CBN Northern Mindanao went viral in the internet.
KIDAPAWAN CITY - Police in Bukidnon has identified a man who allegedly planted an improvised bomb in a Rural Transit Busand set it off on Dec. 9 that left 10 dead and 42 others wounded.Television reports said Macmod Manibpil, who was linked to previous bus bombings in North Cotabato, was from Mlang.Mayor Joselito Pinol has vehemently denied that the alleged suspect was
his constituents as per report by the military in Northern Mindanao aired over
the national televisions on Friday.Senior InspectorJiselle Lou Longakit, Bukidnon police spokesperson, said Manibpil was linked to the Kabacan bus bombing in 2006, arrested but managed to escape from North Cotabato jail.Manibpil was a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), accoring to Longakit.The BIFF, through Abu Misry Mama, earlier denied involvement in the bus bombing.Longakit said the motive could be extortion since the Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated, operator of Rural Bus, admitted to authorities they have been receiving extortion demand and received threats one of its units will be bombed for refusal to provide protection money. Pinol said
Macmod Manibpil is a resident of Barangay Nuangan, Kidapawan City and not the
town of Mlang as early reported.
Mayor Pinol
said Manibpil was arrested due to his alleged participation in the Kidapawan
Bus Terminal and LBC bombings in October of 2003.
The twin
Kidapawan bombings claimed at least a dozen lives and hurt several passengers
and bystanders.
Mayor Pinol
said that his source told him that Manibpil was facing multiple murders,
multiple frustrated murders and multiple attempted murders filed in Kidapawan
City Regional Trial Court.
I’ve asks my
barangay chairmen but they don’t know this man. But when I ask my sources from
the authorities they confirmed to me that Manibpil is from Kidapawan City,”
Mayor Pinol said.
The Bukdinon
police said Manibpil was tagged in the bombing after two witnesses confirmed a
man with the same feature of him, seen with a bull cap, was seen boarding the
bus carrying a backpack but later left.
The mayor
added that Manibpil was detained at the Cotabato Provincial Jail, in Barangay
Amas, Kidapawan but was able to escape when armed men stormed the jail facility
in February 2, 2007.
At least 47
inmates bolted the jail, including three high-profile inmates involved in
series of bombing activities in North Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao.
The three
suspected bombers were identified as Datu Ali Sultan, Guido and Mundos.
At least 25
armed men believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
stormed the jail and fired M-203 grenade launcher destroying the concrete wall
of the jail façade.
Jail guard
Reynaldo Aquino and jail trustee Joy Bustamante were hurt in the said attack.