This was disclosed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-9 (CIDG-9) Commander Senior Supt. Generoso Bonifacio, whose agency was tasked to handle the investigation and the filing of cases against the bombers.

Bonifacio told reporters that two members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were seen minutes before the explosion at the cockpit in Barangay San Roque at about 12:25 p.m. on October 9. Five cockfight aficionados were injured in the incident.

In additon, Bonifacio said the person who occupied the room at the Red Palm Pension House in Barangay Guiwan, where a bomb exploded at about 12:30 p.m. on the same day injuring six people, is an Abu Sayyaf bandit.

The identities of the two bandits were established through the artist sketches derived from the description of witnesses which matched the photographs of known Abu Sayyaf bandits in the CIDG rouge gallery, Bonifacio disclosed.

He said one of the two bandits was seen entering the San Roque cockpit and carrying what looked like a fighting cock transporter.

Early investigation indicate that the bomb that exploded at the cockpit’s left bleacher was concealed in a fighting cock box.

Bonifacio refused to reveal the identities, as well as the artist sketches of the two bandits, pending the filing of charges against them but said they are from Basilan.

However, Bonifacio disclosed that the two suspects have pending warrants for their arrest on kidnapping charges.

Meanwhile, Mayor Celso Lobregat said four of the 11 victims who were admitted for treatment were aleady discharged from the hospital.

Three of them are cockfight aficionados, while the other one is a boxing referee, who was among the victims of the bomb explosion at the budget hotel in Barangay Guiwan, Lobregat said.