After 3 years, a suspect in the two Sultan Kudarat bombings in 2018 was arrested in Maguindanao on Thursday, April 22.

Police arrested Norton Saptula in Barangay Poblacion in Ampatuan town on Thursday by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Lorenzo Balo of Regional Trial Court 12, Branch 19 in 2018.

Saptula faced multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges over the bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, that killed 3 and wounded 36 on August 28, 2018, and a similar bombing less than a week later on September 2 also in Isulan town that killed two and wounded 14.

Septula was initially detained at the Ampatuan municipal police station and was later turned over to the Isulan police station. 

On August 28, 2018, an improvised explosive device was detonated at around 8:34 pm in Barangay Kalawag 3 along the national highway during the Hamungaya Festival. 

Isulan police said their initial probe revealed that the bomb had been placed beneath a motorcycle parked in the area before it exploded.

Days later, on September 2, another explosion occurred at around 7:30 pm near the Novo Building at the Isulan town proper in Barangay Kalawag 2.

Another suspect in the blast, Momong Esmael, was arrested in Maguindanao in August 2020. – Rappler.com