MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima revealed that the alleged group behind the bombing attempt at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are protesting supposedly abusive Chinese-owned businesses in the country.
In a press conference Tuesday, De Lima said that the three of the four captured suspects claim to be part of the United States Air Forces in the Far East or USAFFE.
One of the suspects, identified as Grandeur Pepito Guerrero, is a "self-proclaimed" military general defending Filipinos from Chinese "oligarch titans" engaged monopolies and illegal mining, De Lima said, citing initial investigation findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The two other suspects were identified as Emmanuel San Pedro and Sonny Yohanon. Guerrero, meanwhile, also admitted to being a member of a group called "Guardians."
The suspects also said they were against the Philippines' approach to the territorial disputes with China over areas of the South China Sea, De Lima said.
The three men were apprehended by NBI agents on Monday morning after they were caught parking a white Toyota vehicle loaded with explosives and gasoline at the terminal's parking lot.
Guerrero's group attempted to use improvised incediary device, with potential impact of up to 10 meters radius and could injure and cause the loss of lives, the NBI's probe results show.
Seized from the suspects was a copy of a manifesto entitled "Kilusan Laban sa Pananakop" originally dated Aug. 25, 2014, but was revised to read Sept. 1, 2014.
De Lima noted that the document was supposed to be sent by the alleged bomber to a list of email addresses once the ploy succeeded.
A source of the STAR had said that when the suspects arrived at the parking area, the explosives were already assembled. The suspects were said to be in their 30s.
NBI Anti-Organized Crime Division head agent Rommel Vallejo said that it is not yet determined whether the attempt was a "terrorist activity or a mere destabilization activity."
De Lima also confirmed that the suspects also planned to attack SM Mall of Asia, the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the building of development firm DMCI in Makati City.
The alleged bombers face charges of illegal possession of explosives and may also be charged for conspiring to commit terrorism.