Suspect in bombing of lawmaker's house falls

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – A suspect in the bomb blast at the house of Rep. Didagen Dilangalen in Cotabato City last Dec. 27 has been arrested, authorities said.

The arrest of Nasser Kadil Beda, alias Nash, was made two days after the explosion but was announced only Saturday, as the police did not want to preempt a follow-up operation against the other suspects, said Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna, Central Mindanao (Region 11) police director.

Five other suspects were identified as Mahadi Dimasangka, alias Madi Tarras; Buhari Tarras; Jack Umba, alias Kumander Jack; Antua Sendan, alias Joel; and a certain Diego.

Beda was walking along Datu Maetem Street, Nayon Shariff at Rosary Heights 3 in Cotabato City at around 6 p.m. of Dec. 29 when Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane, Cotabato City police chief, and his men collared him.

Beda and the other suspects were later charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder before the Cotabato City prosecutor’s office.

The information was based on evidence gathered by the Special Investigation Task Group, under Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu Jr., which Cataluna formed to probe the bombing.

Beda was allegedly carrying a loaded caliber .45 pistol when he was arrested.

He told investigators that Diego had given him P7,000 to act as a lookout while one of the other suspects planted an improvised explosive device at the front gate of Dilangalen’s house shortly after the Maguindanao lawmaker arrived from Davao City.  

Police scene-of-the-crime operatives and an Army bomb disposal team recovered a casing and other parts of a mobile phone as well as fragments of what was believed to be a mortar shell with concrete nails as shrapnel.

No one was killed or wounded in the explosion, which bore a large hole in a concrete wall of Dilangalen’s house.