P200,000 reward offered POLICE RELEASE SKETCHES OF M’LANG BOMBING SUSPECTS

By Manny Pinol

The Philippine National Police have released the cartographic sketches of two men who were believed to have planted the bomb in the busy M’lang Public Market Dec. 31 which killed two people and injured 34 others.

M’lang Mayor Joselito Pinol disgtributed the sketches of the suspects to the local police and the media following the official release by the PNP.

The sketches were based on the testimony of witnesses who saw the suspects moments before the blast.

Police described the suspects of the Mlang New Year’s Eve bombing as between 30-35 years old, around 5’5” to 5’6” tall and weighing around 62 to 68 kilos.

One of the witnesses, whose identity has been withheld, said she even argued with the suspect wearing a bonnet because he initially wanted to leave behind the bag, later known to have contained the bomb, in the place where she was manning a store.

The witness said she told the bomber not to leave behind the bag because it was against the local town’s policy in the campaign against terror bombing.

She said the bomber left and went to the other side of the market where he apparently succeeded in convincing the other saleslady to allow him to leave the bag.

Moments later it exploded immediately killing a mother of four and wounding 35 others. Another injured victim died later in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Interaksyon.com reported that “an improvised bomb was found and safely detonated by authorities in Pikit town.

The package containing the Pikit bomb, planted in front of the home of Bobby Sahidsahid on Datu Piang Street, Barangay Poblacion, was discovered by residents around 9 a.m.”

A bomb squad immediately responded and safely set off the improvised explosive device crafted from a rifle grenade and set to be triggered by a cellular phone.

Authorities have yet to identify who planted the bomb.”