Suspected JI bombers arraigned in Manila

Two suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members, accused of multiple murder in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) bombing four years ago, refused to enter a plea at a Manila court yesterday, compelling the presiding judge to plea not guilty on their behalf.

Suspects Abdul Pata, alias Zainal Paks, and Mamasao Naga, alias Mohamad Amirwere arraigned yesterday at the sala of Manila Judge Cielito Grulla of Regional Trial Court Branch 29.

The military arrested Naga and Pata earlier this month for their alleged role in the Dec. 30, 2000 bombing that killed 20 and injured more than 100 people.

The suspects’ lawyer told the court that they were government employees in Lanao del Sur and that several witnesses had seen them there on the day of the blast, placing them away from the crime scene.

"They’re not terrorists. They’re working for local officials who are fighting terrorism," said lawyer Abdul Bayan Goling-balt.

But State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the pair had planned the bombings with a suspected Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert from Indonesia, Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, and other Filipino militants.

Al-Ghozi escaped from police custody in July last year and was killed by police in a shootout three months later.

Several people have been charged for the Rizal Day attack, including Isamuddin Riduan, also known as Hambali, who was believed to be Jemaah Islamiyah’s operations chief before his arrest in Thailand last year.

Also attending a hearing was Moklis Hadji Yunos , alias Saifullah Yunos, who faces charges of multiple murder and multiple attempted murder for the LRT bombing.

Moklis has been locked up in jail and his case is pending at the sala of Manila Judge Lucia Purugganan of RTC Branch 54.