Police authorities are focusing their investigation on extortion and labor dispute as possible motive behind the bomb explosion Wednesday night in front of a tuna canning plant here that killed four people and injured 27 others.
Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio, Region 12 police director, said this morning that police investigators are already looking into various vital information and several witnesses that may possibly identify the suspects behind the bomb blast near the gate of the PhilBest Canning Corp. in barangay Calumpang here at around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.
â€We are focusing our assessment and investigation on the angle involving the operations of Philbest,†Serapio said.
Serapio said officials of Philbest Canning Corp., which is part of the RD Group of Companies of fishing magnate Rodrigo Rivera Sr, initially denied receiving any extortion demands. He said the company reportedly “don’t have any labor-related problem†prior to the attack.
Although stressing that they are not ruling out other possible angles, Serapio explained that last night's bomb explosion appears off the target of suspected terror groups as it happened at least eight kilometers away from the city proper.
Most of the previous bomb explosions here, which were blamed on local terrorist cells reportedly linked with Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, had occurred at the city’s downtown area.
As of this morning, Serapio said they have yet to determine the type of explosive used in the bomb attack.
â€The explosive materials were crushed to bits because it was a high order explosion. We are still awaiting the result of the post-blast investigation of our bomb experts,†he said.
Serapio said the explosion claimed numerous casualties as it happened while about 500 cannery workers on different shifts were going in and out of the plant's premises.
Senior Supt. Robert Po, city police director, said investigators could not yet determine the type of explosive used in the attack since they only recovered small pieces of the explosive’s materials.
â€We will reconstruct these materials and subject them to chemical tests. Hopefully we can complete them within the day,†he said.
Meantime, Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. strongly condemned the attack, which he described as an “inhuman act.â€
The mayor said he has mobilized personnel of various agencies of the local government and other government offices in the city to provide the necessary assistance to the victims.
â€Our police and military are already on the trail of these criminals, I am expecting results within the next 24 hours,†he said in an emailed statement.
He advised residents to remain calm and not to be intimidated by the latest terror attack.
â€Terrorists feed on fear. We must never give them the satisfaction that they have won,†Acharon said.
The mayor also urged residents to continue being vigilant, stressing that complacency offers a window of opportunity for terror attacks.
â€Let us show these criminals that their act cannot stop us from continuing to live in a city that is peaceful and progressive,†he added.