Bus bombing suspect pleads ‘not guilty’

The suspect in last year’s bus blast in Balintawak pleaded not guilty to double murder charges during his arraignment in Quezon City yesterday.

Jerry Minalang, 37, a construction worker and resident of 10-B Sapang Bato, Bagong Bayan, Libis, Quezon City, denied he planted a bomb that exploded inside a Golden Hi-Way bus and killed two passengers on Oct. 18, 2002.

In the amended information filed at the sala of Judge Monina Zenarosa, Minalang was charged with two counts of murder for the death of Fernando Bon and Egisergio Magno. Several passengers were also injured in the blast.

The Central Police District (CPD) filed the charges against Minalang after he was positively identified by two witnesses as the person who hastily alighted from the bus a few minutes before the blast. Minalang was also seen holding a cellular phone, which he allegedly used to set off the bomb.

The pre-trial will begin on Jan. 13. No bail has been recommended for the accused.

Minalang’s arraignment was originally scheduled for Dec. 9 but was deferred after the court granted the motion of the prosecution to amend the information against the accused.

Zenarosa also deferred the arraignment to allow Minalang to undergo a medical examination after the accused claimed he was subjected to physical torture while under custody by the police following his arrest on Oct. 24 in Libis, Quezon City.

The suspect was given a one-day pass to be examined at the East Avenue Medical Center. Zenarosa also directed the Quezon City jail warden to show proof of the compliance with the order.

Minalang’s lawyer, Ernesto Francisco Jr. said the accused was suffering from weakness of the body, shortness of breath and severe chills after allegedly receiving blows while undergoing custodial investigation.

Police denied Minalang’s claims.