Intel agent pins down Davao blast suspect

DAVAO CITY — The city prosecutor’s office presented in court the other day a member of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) to pin down a detained suspect in the April 2 bombing that ripped through a row of food stalls at the Sasa wharf’s passenger terminal here.

Army T/Sgt. Danilo Villarosa identified suspect Emran Gumanod as one of those behind the explosion that left 17 people dead and 59 others wounded.

Villarosa claimed that Gumanod and Solaiman Demasalang, named in arrest warrants of suspects in the blast, are the same person.

Villarosa claimed having known Gumanod since 1987 as a ground commander of the Moro National Liberation Front.

He said Gumanod had led many MNLF attacks against military personnel since 1977.

Gumanod, however, denied that he and Demasalang are the same person.

He presented his voter’s affidavit and barangay clearance, as well as another clearance issued by the Cotabato City prosecutor’s office that he is Gumanod and not Demasalang.

Gumanod was arrested last July by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cotabato City.

Meanwhile, relatives of the bombing victims marked the fifth month of the incident on Tuesday by lighting candles and saying prayers at the blast site.

The regional office of the Philippine Ports Authority also extended a cash assistance of P10,000 each to at least nine barangay tanods and policemen who were wounded in the Sasa wharf bombing.