We now have an idea on who is behind Davao blast says Bato dela Rosa

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Monday they already have an idea on who the mastermind is in the Davao blast which claimed the lives of 14 people and injured 70 others.

“Mastermind of the bombing ... we already have an idea on who they are or who he is. Meron na kaming idea but hindi pa namin ipapa-public because we are still [in] the process of case buildup against him, against them,” Dela Rosa told reporters in Lipa, Batangas where he led the launching of the PNP Cup.

No link yet to Davao blast

He, however, refused to link arrested Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal to the Davao explosion until the probers finish the investigation.

“Yung balita naman na yan are all speculations. Hindi pa naman talaga nanggagaling sa ating mga investigator na may hawak talaga ng hard facts and hard evidence to pin the suspects down. Hindi pa po,” Dela Rosa said.

“No, I cannot (say yet that he is involved) but I cannot say otherwise also. He was arrested based on illegal possession of firearms, explosives and I think meron pang drugs. So yan ang basis ng kanyang pagka- aresto, not being the mastermind of the Davao bombing,” he said.

Pressed on the Sabal’s connection to blast, Dela Rosa said it is “too early to say, give us time.”

“Huwag n’yo muna i-connect sa Davao blast. Doon lang muna sa offense na illegal possession of firearms,” he added.

'Narco-terrorism'

Dela Rosa insisted on his earlier theory that the bombing has something to do with narco-terrorism but he refused to elaborate.

“Hindi muna ako magsalita hanggang hindi pa namin ma-connect. We have to connect all the dots to have an airtight case against the suspects. So hindi ko masabi na sila yung narco-politicians na tinutukoy natin who funded the bombing ... that terror attack,” he said.

The PNP chief believes that when they arrest the suspected bomber, that person would subsequently identify the mastermind.

“Kung makuha natin yung suspect ... then tutuga na siya sa nag-fund, then airtight na yung ating kaso,” he said.

He assured the public that they are doing everything to arrest the bomber who is now hiding in Central Mindanao.

“We are doing everything we can to have him arrested…he is in Central Mindanao in a very protected area,” he said.