Cops raid Quiapo homes a week after blast

The Manila Police District (MPD) on Friday morning conducted a raid at a couple of homes in Quiapo, Manila a week after the explosion that wracked the district.

Operatives were hunting down a resident they believe was involved in the blast that injured 14 people.

After residents failed to identify and pinpoint the suspect, police forcibly entered two homes.

Arimao Disumimba, a police official from Baranay Ex-O, Barangay 648, Manila, said that he recognized the man in the photo as someone who died two years ago.

"Yung nasa picture, hindi ko alam yung pangalan niya, pero dati nang patay yun, nakalampas na ng dalawang taon. Patay na," said Disumimba.

Police first entered the home of one Atty. Abedin Odal, who was present during the search.

They recovered what seemed like a homemade pipe bomb, similar to the one that caused the explosion.

"Pinasok namin yung ibang kwarto sa baba, yun, may nakita yung isa na pulis, sabi nya merong bag... May nakita ako na galon na maliit na parang lalagyan ng oil...may tubo, dalawa. may nakatali na wire na maiksi. Mukhang bomba," Disumimba said.

They didn't arrest Odal, who they believed worked for the Office of Muslim Affairs.

Police entered a second house, which is owned by one Adbullah Maminda.

After searching the rooms, they immediately left.

"Tinignan nila yung mga kwarto kung may tao. Kami lang ng mga anak ko, siyam kami lahat. Pagkatingin lang sa kwarto, walang tao, bumaba na sila. Nakaktakot yung ginawa nila. Bigla lang papasukin," said Maminda.

The MPD first said they were looking into gang war, and not terrorism, as the motive for the explosion.

The Islamic State later claimed the incident, but Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rolando "Bato" Dela Rosa said that ISIS was mistaken.

MPD remains tight lipped on whether they are now looking into the angle of terrorism. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News