Ex-SWAT cop nabbed for bank bombings

MANILA, Philippines - A foreign-trained bomb expert and former member of the Northern Police District (NPD) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit was arrested Wednesday after three witnesses linked him to explosions at three banks in Caloocan and Valenzuela last week.

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. identified the suspect as former Police Officer 3 Leandro Songcuan, a native of Pangasinan and resident of Vista Verde Subdivision in Kaybiga, Caloocan North.

Songcuan was presented to the media in a press conference at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame yesterday.

At around 11:15 a.m. on July 11, an explosion rocked an Allied Bank branch at Marulas, Valenzuela City. Fifteen minutes later, another blast occurred at the Allied Bank branch on Rizal Avenue Extension in Caloocan City.

On July 13, at around 5:20 a.m., an explosion damaged the automated teller machine (ATM) booth and the ceiling of a Union Bank branch in Marulas.

A witness “saw Songcuan in the act of throwing the explosive at the Union Bank’s ATM while two other witnesses saw the suspect leaving the Allied Bank branch premises in Caloocan City moments before the explosion,” Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao said the witnesses recognized Songcuan from the police photo gallery of suspected criminals and picked him out from a police lineup.

Drawn to crime

Songcuan was formerly with the PNP Special Action Force before he trained in Australia as a bomb technician and was assigned to the Caloocan and Valenzuela SWAT Explosives and Ordnance Disposal.

He was dismissed from the service in 2004 for his involvement in robberies in Camanava and other parts of Metro Manila.

Most of his victims were bank clients who had just withdrawn money from their account.

Songcuan was arrested on the strength of two outstanding warrants issued by Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Judges Nena Santos for robbery with homicide (no bail) and Floro Alejo for robbery with threats and intimidation.

He also faces charges of arson and illegal possession of explosives before Caloocan and Valenzuela courts.

Suspect mum on charges

A search of Songcuan’s home yielded bomb-making tools, electrical wire, dismantled cell phones and chargers. The evidence is being examined by Scene of the Crime Operatives.

Police have yet to determine Songcuan’s motives because “he invoked his right to remain silent during interrogation,” according to Pagdilao. He added that they are trying to identify and arrest Songcuan’s alleged accomplices.

Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said they are “not discounting the possibility” that Songcuan’s actions are related to reported attempts to destabilize the Arroyo administration.

Pagdilao earlier dismissed the blasts as mere pillbox-throwing incidents and not in any way related to earlier bombings in Quezon City and Mindanano.

“Our preliminary investigation showed that the explosions were caused by a pillbox, a homemade explosive that could cause only slight damage,” he said.

– With Non Alquitran