MANILA - Police on Wednesday said two individuals tagged in twin blasts at the Jolo cathedral on Sunday have turned themselves in, supposedly to clear their name.
The two suspects, caught on CCTV footage on a street near the cathedral moments before the first blast, surrendered to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group around 10 a.m.
One of those who surrendered was the man earlier identified as a brother of bandit leader Surakah Ingog.
Col. Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the military's Western Mindanao Command, had said Tuesday that the man, at the time wearing a blue-green jacket, was seen tinkering with a cellphone that could have been used to detonate bombs at the Jolo cathedral.
In the video, he and another man walking beside him were among those seen running away after the explosion.
Police said the suspect admitted that it was him on the video but claimed he had nothing to do with the blast. He told police he was a Sulu resident and was just out to go to market.
Police are taking their statements as of this posting.
Authorities earlier tagged the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group in the twin blasts that left 21 dead and at least 100 hurt.
More details to follow.
-- with a report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News
Jolo blast, Jolo, Sulu, bombing, Abu Sayyaf Group, terrorism, Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, PNP, CIDG