Police said the man delivering the package which figured in one of two blasts in Quiapo on Saturday, likely did not know he was delivering an explosive device.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde said CCTV footage showed the courier asking around where he was supposed deliver a package addressed to Atty. Nasser Abinal.
Albayalde said a caretaker took the package and the bomb exploded just as the courier was about to leave.
Earlier reports said the courier, who also died in the blast, carried the package riding a motorcycle.
“Ang nag-receive po [sa package] ay ‘yung caretaker sa lugar na ‘yun. ‘Yung nakita natin sa CCTV footage, after na mai-deliver niya, pagtalikod pa lang nung nag-deliver ay pumutok na ‘yung package,” he said.
(The caretaker received the package in that location. What we saw in the CCTV footage is that after the package was delivered, the delivery man turned around and the package already exploded.)
Initial investigation showed the package was picked up by the courier from a still-unidentified person at the vicinity of SM Manila.
Police have yet to make public the identity of the courier, who was was registered with GrabExpress, as they still needed to inform his family.
“Pinick-up niya sa may vicinity ng SM Manila ‘yung package. ‘Yun po ang iniimbestigahan natin talaga, kung sino ang nagpadala ng package. Accordingly, naka-register siya sa Grab,” he said.
(The package was picked up in the vicinity of SM Manila. That’s what we’ll investigate: who sent the package. Accordingly, the sender is registered at Grab.)
In a statement released Sunday, Grab Philippines said they are deeply saddened that the Quiapo blast took the lives of two civilians, including one of their GrabExpress partners.
Grab also vowed to cooperate with the investigation.
“We are one with authorities in pursuing justice for those who needlessly lost their lives and were hurt. We pledge our full support and cooperation in the conduct of their investigation,” said Grab Philippines.
“Grab and our GrabExpress partners will remain vigilant and work with the police to take extra care in areas that may be identified as at risk for such incidences,” it added.
Meanwhile, Atty. Abinal, the supposed target of the blasts, earlier told police authorities that he received threats via social media prior to Saturday’s incident.
Police said they are still investigating the statement of Abinal, who is an imam or a Muslim leader in their community.
Abinal is also a revenue district officer at the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Intramuros, Manila, according to Albayalde.
The NCRPO earlier ruled out terrorism in the blasts, stressing that the bomb had a specific target.
