Raps filed vs blast victim

DAVAO CITY — The city police finally filed charges of illegal possession of explosives yesterday against a British-American physician who was seriously injured when the explosives he had kept inside his hotel room here exploded last May 16.

Police filed the case against 60-year-old Michael Miering with the city prosecutor’s office after ascertaining that the incident was of his own making, having kept explosives inside his room at the budget Evergreen Hotel.

Miering, said to be involved in treasure hunting in Southern Mindanao in the past 10 years, suffered third-degree burns and lost his legs in the blast. He is now confined at the Makati Medical Center.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Miering will have to be brought back to this city to face the charges against him.

"I hold Miering responsible for the explosion. He refused to cooperate with the police when they went to search his room before the incident," Duterte said.

Stephen Hughes, a friend who attends to Miering’s hospitalization, told The STAR that Miering is in a life-support system at the Makati Medical Center.

"It would take a long time for him to recover but his needs are attended to at the hospital," he said.

Hughes’ affiliation with Miering has been questioned following reports that the two were partners in treasure hunting.

"I have not been hiding from anyone. Anybody can get in touch with me, especially the police. They can ask me. But I have to make it clear that I am not his partner," Hughes said.

Agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) allegedly sneaked Miering out of Davao City last May 19 without informing police and local officials.

Miering was fetched by a chartered Subic Air Lear jet (RPC 1426), allegedly facilitated by the US Embassy.

Honolulu-based FBI agent John Gray arrived here last May 17, along with US vice consul Michael Newbill, to look into the explosion.

Miering reportedly had to be transferred to the Makati Medical Center because it is one of only two hospitals in the country covered by his medical insurance (the other is St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City).

A source said Miering’s bills at the Davao Doctors Hospital had mounted but were not covered by his medical insurance, thus requiring his transfer.