The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified on Saturday the alleged mastermind behind the explosion at the Zamboanga City International Airport Thursday night that left two people dead and 24 others wounded, including Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan who is believed to be the real target of the attack.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP chief, said the result of the initial investigation points to a certain Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie as the one behind the explosion, adding that the bombing was more likely aimed at assassinating Tan.

“It is more of politics than an act of terrorism,” said Verzosa.

The official said the political angle as the motive behind the attack was bolstered by the result of the investigation of bomb experts that the improvised explosive device (IED) used was made of ammonium nitrate and a fuel and it was not rigged with shrapnel which is commonly used in terror attacks.

Tulawie was among those who were earlier charged in connection with the roadside bombing in Jolo, Sulu in May last year that left 10 people dead.

The May 13 attack was the first attempt on the life of Tan. His police and military escorts were among those injured in the roadside bombing.

Tulawie is reportedly connected to a non-government organization based in Mindanao and a politician who was defeated in the 2007 elections.

Sonny Abing, spokesman of the Sulu provincial government, refused to comment on the connection of Tulawie on the attack, saying they leave the investigation to the police.

Aside from the two assassination attempts on Tan, Verzosa said the background check revealed that the group of Tulawie was also involved in some other atrocities in Mindanao. He added that the same group is also being eyed as among those responsible in the Batasan Pambansa bombing that left then Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar dead.

The official said he had already ordered all police units in Mindanao, particularly the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to run after Tulawie and his cohorts.

Security tightened
Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PNP spokesman, said Verzosa had already ordered to intensify the security in airports, seaports, bus terminals across the country following the Zamboanga City blast.

“We don’t want the same kind of attack to happen, that’s why the Chief PNP wants to secure these places,” said Cruz.

Aside from air and seaports, the official said the PNP leadership has also included the mass transport systems, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) to be included in target-hardening.

Cruz said the order means additional deployment of policemen in the area and routine patrol.

He revealed that security in airports will be handled primarily by the PNP Aviation Security Group while that of the seaports to the Maritime Group in coordination with military counterparts.

“The police visibility will be intensified and we are expecting that more checkpoints will be set up, particularly in areas near the airports and seaports,” said Cruz.

No idea of IED
So far, Cruz said the Verzosa also ordered a separate investigation to determine if there were security lapses at the Zamboanga City airport that might have resulted in the bombing on Thursday night.

But Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat said suspected bomb-carrier Reynaldo Apilado appeared to have no idea that the backpack he was carrying was stuffed with a bomb.

Based on a review of the CCTV (closed-circuit television) system installed in the airport, Lobregat said that there was no sudden movement on the hands of Apilado that would indicate that he was the one who detonated it.

Cruz, for his part, said the focus of the investigation now is to determine who gave the bomb-rigged backpack to the victim whose cadaver was mutilated during the blast.

The review of the CCTV system, the official said, is one of the reasons why the suicide bombing angle is being ruled out.

Authorities said one of the 24 injured was British national Macker Charls, 69, who was erroneously reported earlier as one of the fatalities.