‘Metro bomber’ killed in blast?

A 38-year-old man suspected of involvement in bombing incidents in Metro Manila, including last year’s Dec. 30 blasts, is believed to have been killed when the "high-tech" bombs he was making in his house in Muntinlupa went off shortly after midnight yesterday.

A background investigation is now being made on the fatality, Henry Hidalgo, said to be a mechanic, as responding police discovered a total of 13 kilos of various powdery substances in his wrecked room, empty bullet shells, electronic timers and other devices. Hidalgo’s body was mangled by the blast.

"There were so many bombs that experts from all over had to be called in to defuse them. It took them a while to clear the place," said Chief Inspector Lusito Bolivar, head of Muntinlupa investigation division.

Bolivar said they are also checking the contents of computer diskettes found at the scene and a computer set itself but could not say if this could still be of any use to investigators.

Hidalgo was reportedly described by relatives as a recluse and short tempered. Injured in the explosion was Darwin de Leon, 20, reportedly a nephew of Hidalgo who occupies the adjoining room.

"It is possible that Hidalgo is part of the Dec. 30 bombing. We are checking that," said Senior Police Officer 4 Armando Alambro.

Bolivar said a receipt they found for the powdery substance, believed to be explosives showed they were purchased days before the Dec. 30 blast last year.

His relatives reportedly did not know of the presence of the home made bombs as Hidalgo reportedly spent all his time locked in his room and would only come out to eat his meals.

Police said the blast occurred at about 12:45 a.m. in his room located at Block 5-1, Lot 28, Jade Heights, Victoria Homes, Tunasan, Muntinlupa. The home is reportedly at the farthest end of the residential area.

Last Dec. 30 successive explosions hit Metro Manila killing scores of LRT passengers and policemen who tried to defuse one of them in Makati City. The perpetrators of the bombing incidents remained unknown although some sectors are linking it to impeachment trial of then president Joseph Estrada that was ongoing at the time. Others blamed the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front then under siege in Mindanao.

Alambro said initial record check of Hidalgo showed that he jumped bail for a homicide case in La Union while he was also charged for a 1999 shooting in their neighborhood but the latter did not progress in the absence of a witness.

"He is notorious in their place," said Bolivar. Intelligence operatives are investigating the case.