NBI to summon 2 more APO members in Bar blast probe

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to summon the two more members of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity tagged in the grenade explosion that marred the conclusion of this year’s Bar exams in Manila last month, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

In an ambush interview during the National Summit for Persons Deprived of Liberty (NSPDL) held in a hotel in Manila, she said the subpoena would be sent either this week or early next week.

“What is certain is that we have their names and we know where they are working. The next step is to subpoena them to give them a chance to clear themselves and prove that they were not really involved here,” she explained.

De Lima, however, still refused to reveal the names of the two suspects. She again warned that the NBI is already preparing the charges, which would be filed whether the two APO members would appear or not.

De Lima reiterated that she opted not to release the names of the APO members tagged by NBI in the Bar blast and the two previous grenade attacks because she does not want to jeopardize ongoing operations.

She said the two were the ones who allegedly helped primary suspect Anthony Nepomuceno escape from the blast site after he was blocked momentarily by a group of men from another fraternity.

In a complaint filed by the NBI last Oct. 28, Nepomuceno was accused of “multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder” after he was identified by four eyewitnesses when he submitted himself to the investigation.

Investigators said it was established during the probe that the attack was “premeditated” and that there was also use of a “lethal weapon,” referring to MK2-type grenade.

De Lima also earlier linked the APO to two other grenade attacks: in La Consolacion College in Manila in 2008 and in University of Perpetual Help in Las Piñas City last March.

Nepomuceno already asked her to pass the preliminary investigation of the case from the DOJ to the Manila City prosecutor’s office, citing her “prejudgment of the case” as shown by her statements.