NBI subpoenas ‘terror expert’ anew

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday afternoon sent a second subpoena to a self-proclaimed anti-terrorism expert and asked him to produce the videotape that allegedly showed him assembling an explosive on board an airplane bound for Davao last month.

The subpoena duces tecum for Samson Macariola was brought to his house on No. 20-B Lopez st., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. This time. the NBI-Special Task Force (STF) is requiring him to produce the recorded video.

Macariola was summoned to appear on Monday morning. He first appeared at the NBI-STF office on Sept. 13 when he submitted a three-page affidavit to regional director Reynaldo Esmeralda.

In his affidavit, he denied the existence of the tape and claimed that he only possessed a "training video" shot in a room, in which he used molding clay instead of explosives.

But Philippine Daily Inquirer contributor Arlyn dela Cruz, who wrote the story about the "suicide bomber," told the NBI in a separate meeting that she viewed the tape.

Macariola was allegedly able to smuggle components of a bomb and assemble them on board an airplane.

The NBI-STF officer-on-case said that if there are other witnesses who would come forward and confirm De la Cruz’ story, such as Daniel Cruz and the other media man, they would file charges of obstruction of justice against Macariola for refusing to cooperate.

"We will leave it up to the court to decide who to believe," the case officer said.

De la Cruz earlier told NBI-STF executive officer Supervising Agent Arnel Dalumpines that Cruz could stand as a witness. He and Macariola reportedly belong to the same group and also conduct training on security, firearms and explosives.

Cruz, whose office is located on the third floor of the HDL Building on No. 60 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City, is expected to present himself at the NBI office at 2 pm tomorrow.

The STF might also call on the media man at the tail end of their investigation.

The case officer said the "information that would be revealed by this media man is vital in our investigation if he would be willing to testify. It seems that whatever Macariola showed and told Dela Cruz, he also showed and told this other media personality and this includes even showing him the alleged video wherein Macariola reportedly smuggled and assembled the bomb while on board the plane."

The stunt Macariola allegedly pulled caused a public alarm because it put in question the capability of security personnel in preventing a possible terrorist attack in the country’s domestic airports. — Evelyn Macairan