DOJ to conduct preliminary investigation vs Davao City blast suspects on October 12

Niight market along Roxas Avenue in Davao City following September 2 blast. (PCO photo)

MANILA—The Department of Justice (DOJ) has set the first preliminary investigation on Oct. 12 against the three members of the Maute Terrorist Group, who were allegedly the perpetrators of the Davao City blast last September 2.

The three were identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha,who are facing raps for violation of Republic Act 9516 for illegal possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition.

The suspects waived Article 125 of Revised Penal Code and were directed to file their counter-affidavits on Oct. 12 at 2:00 p.m.

The DOJ panel who will conduct the initial probe on the matter is headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong. Joining him in the panel are state prosecutors Susan Azarcon and Ferdinand Fernandez.

After the hearings, the prosecutors will have to decide on whether to press charges against the three Maute members over the bombing at a night market in Davao City that left 15 people dead and injured 70 others.

All three suspects were taken to the DOJ on Friday to undergo inquest proceedings.

An inquest is a summary investigation conducted by a public prosecutor in a criminal case involving a person arrested and detained without the benefit of a warrant of arrest for the purpose of determining whether the person should remain under custody and be charged in court.

The three were arrested on board a motorcycle with no license plate in a mobile checkpoint by joint elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police last Oct. 4 in Cotabato City.

Confiscated from the suspects were various components for improvised explosive devices, a sub-machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, their motorcycle, and various cellular phones.

Based on initial investigations and debriefing, it was found that Macabalang detonated the bomb that was placed in position by Facturan.

Mustapha, meanwhile, took a video of the incident using his cellular phone.

The said video, along with the other photos of the incident were recovered from the cellular phones and were supposed to be used for propaganda.

A 20-second propaganda video showing Facturan and a photo showing a bomb manual were also recovered from the suspects.