Police says suspect in General Santos bombing arrested

September 21, 2018

A suspect behind the September 16 explosion in General Santos City is under custody, regional police director Senior Superintendent Oliver Emmodias said Friday.

Emmodias said the suspect is Jeffrey Alonzo, 38, married, and a resident of Barangay Lapu, Polomolok, South Cotabato.

The police and military tagged Alonzo as member of Ansar Khalifah Philippines which is part of the local network of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group.

Authorities arrested Alonzo in an illegal-drug buy bust operation at Barangay Lapu in Polomolok, South Cotabato three days ago when authorities were conducting hot pursuit operation against the bombing suspect.

Authorities said Alonzo was positively identified as the suspect behind the improvised bomb explosion when brought before the witnesses.

The police and military said that they focused their investigation on “personal grudge.” Alonzo has been the cause of the incident due to a family-related conflict involving the lying-in clinic’s owner; and link the suspect to ISIS inspired group to which he has sworn allegiance, they said.

Enmodias said they filed charges of multiple frustrated murder Friday morning against Alonzo.

General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said it is a welcome development to the investigation process.

Rivera said the security alert in the city remains at level 4 and city is working with all law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the city against terrorists. DMS