PNP tags 2 persons of interest in Zambo mosque blast

Banac’s remarks were echoed by Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Zamboanga Peninsula police director, noting that they already have a lead on the incident. (File Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now looking for two persons of interest behind Wednesday’s grenade explosion at a mosque in Zamboanga City.

“Yung grenade throwing sa Zamboanga City, may two persons of interest. Kasalukuyang kinikilala na ito dahil mapapansin natin, wala tayong nakuhang CCTV (footage) dun sa lugar at may kadiliman ang lugar (We have two persons of interest in the grenade throwing in Zamboang City. We are currently determining their identities because as we have noticed, we do not have CCTV footage from the area and it is a bit dark there),” Banac told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.

Banac’s remarks were echoed by Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Zamboanga Peninsula police director, noting that they already have a lead on the incident.

Licup, however, said they cannot divulge other information related to operational matters.

“We have ordered all our provincial directors to get in touch with other faith-based groups and in fact yesterday (Wednesday), all of our provincial offices have conducted their own and in the city, it was led by no less than the mayor herself,” Licup said.

At present, the PNP continuously conducts case conferences and gets support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), other government agencies and the intelligence community regarding the incident.

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, two persons were killed and three others were injured in a grenade blast at the Maharlika mosque in Sitio Logoy Diutay in Barangay Talon-Talon.