3 bomb suspects claim innocence

Three men suspected of being explosives experts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied claims by the police that they planned to sow terror in Metro Manila.

Brothers Mohalidin, 33, and Mogiahid Hassan, 27, and 18-year-old Maimona Mogawan told State Prosecutor Geronomi Sy that they merely wanted to look for employment when they arrived in Manila from Cotabato City Wednesday last week.

The trio also denied they were members of the MILF, and denied ownership of the bombs which were confiscated in their possession by members of the Western Police District’s Explosives and Ordnance Division.

Seized from the trio were one mortal shell, one RPG ammo, two pipe bombs and one fuse/booster which were carefully concealed with a masking tape inside a motorcycle’s rubber interior and placed in two boxes full of bananas.

They are all facing charges of illegal possession of explosives since Congress has yet to pass the anti-terror bill, which would address terrorism-related cases. The suspects were apprehended as they disembarked from Superferry II in Pier 4 of North Harbor. – Delon Porcalla