MANILA, Philippines - A plot to bomb Metro Manila is believed to have been averted following the arrest in Quezon City of three men, one of whom had been tagged in the Maguindanao airport explosion in 2003, police said yesterday.
Ricardo Ayeras, Andrescio Valdez and Ricky Macapagal were collared near Muñoz Market at the corner of EDSA and Roosevelt Avenue at past 2 p.m. Sunday, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano said.
Ayeras, a member of the Rajah Solaiman Movement, had been charged in connection with the Awang airport bombing in Datu Odin Sinsuat based on a document from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group classified as “secret.”
Superintendent Pedro Sanchez, QCPD Station 2 commander, said the suspects had been under surveillance by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
“They are tracking the suspects for their alleged plan to conduct bombings in Metro Manila,” Sanchez said.
ISAFP agents and police officers flagged down the suspects on a Honda motorcycle for not wearing helmets.
Police said Macapagal, who was driving the motorcycle, failed to present a driver’s license.
Albano said Ayeras yielded a hand grenade and an identification card bearing his photo but with the name “Ely Mariano Faiso.”
Valdez also yielded an ID card bearing his photo but with the name “Michael Anderson Sarcia.” Another ID also had his photo but with the name “Najib Habalo.” – With Alexis Romero