Zamboanga bombing suspect named

MANILA, Philippines – Authorities have already identified the suspect in the Zamboanga International Airport bombing last night that killed two people and wounded 24 others.

In a radio interview, Zamboanga City mayor Celso Lobregat said police are now looking into the background of Reynaldo Apillado, the alleged suicide bomber.

Lobregat said the president of the homeowner's association of the subdivision where Apillado stayed for three years told him that the suspect lives alone at his residence.

"He (Apillado) is already a widower," Lobregat said, quoting the homeowner's group.

Lobregat said Apillado was employed as a construction worker before his death.

Aside from Apillado, a woman, who was beside him at the airport, was killed due to the blast, the local executive added.

"The two might have known each other. That's what the police are now looking into," Lobregat said.

Lobregat and other officials of Zamboanga will be meeting today with Philippine National Police director general Jesus Versoza regarding the incident.

Earlier, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan suspected that he is the target of the suicide bombing. Tan and two of his security escorts were slightly hurt during the explosion at the arrival area of the airport.

Meanwhile, Lobregat disclosed that only nine of the 24 people who were injured during the blast remain confined at the hospital.

Among those seriously wounded during the explosion is a British national.

- By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)