Raps filed vs 2 of 3 suspects in bus bombing

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Police yesterday filed charges against two of three suspects in last week’s bombing of a Rural Transit bus in Matalam, North Cotabato.

The third suspect, who is a minor, is still under the joint custody of the North Cotabato police and the provincial social welfare office.

Police has also placed under tight guard one of those injured in the bombing, Guinaid Adam, former manager of the Weena Bus Co. here.

Weena Bus had terminated Adam after he was found to have connived with an extortion syndicate that mulcted from the company.

Sources in the office of North Cotabato Gov. Lala Talino-Mendoza said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is arriving in Kidapawan City today to preside over a meeting on recent developments in the bus bombing, which left 10 people dead and at least 30 others wounded.

Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, spokeswoman of the North Cotabato police, said the minor who has confessed to have helped fellow suspects Shiang and Torex plant the improvised explosive in the bus, could even be a potential witness in the case.