Man caught on CCTV leaving plastic bag before Basilan blasts —PRO9

An unidentified man was caught on CCTV footage leaving a plastic bag at a parking area of a fastfood outlet before the twin explosions transpired in Isabela City, Basilan, the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) said Tuesday.

“Based on a CCTV footage, an unidentified male person wearing yellow t-shirt with cap left a cellophane at the parking area of Jollibee which later on exploded,“ the PRO9 said in a statement.

The police also said the man placed a small container inside the cellophane.

“A duty guard was interviewed by our personnel and he narrated that he noticed a box of an alcoholic beverage in the area,” PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. said.

“Suddenly, it exploded. Apparently, the box was left by a passenger who boarded one of the bus units,” he added.

The PRO9 added that a security guard also saw an unclaimed baggage from one of the buses of the D’ Biel Transportation Co. from Lamitan City before the explosions took place.

“While in an interview with a guard of D’ Biel motor pool, prior the explosion thereat, he noticed an unclaimed baggage which accordingly came from one of their buses from Lamitan City,” it said.

According to the PRO9, two civilians were injured and four  D’ Biel transportation vehicles were damaged due to the blasts.

The PNP said the two victims identified as Evangeline Francisco, 28, and Christopher Pasaul, 47,  were rushed to the hospital  and are now in stable condition.

On Monday, two explosions transpired in Isabela City. The first blast was at a parking area of a fast food chain in Barangay Isabela Proper at 5:45 p.m. The second one happened while police were conducting an investigation in the area.

“While personnel of Isabela City Police Station and concerned units were conducting post-blast investigation on the said area, another explosion happened in the motor pool of D’ Biel Transportation Co. situated in Barangay La Piedad, Isabela City,” it added.

Authorities are now conducting an in-depth investigation to identify and locate the perpetrators.

PRO9 director Police Brigadier General Franco Simborio ordered all units to intensify security measures and amplify intelligence monitoring to ensure the safety of the public.—AOL, GMA News