Filtered By: Topstories
News

Suspect in 2003 Cotabato airport bombing nabbed


Police arrested on Monday a suspected "international terrorist" wanted for the bombing of an airport in Cotabato City in 2003. Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, identified the arrested suspect as Ricardo Ayeras, 37. The suspect was arrested near the Mandaluyong City Medical Center along Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City around 11 p.m. by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Abraham Borreta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 154 in Pasig City. Ayeras is charged with murder and multiple frustrated murder for the bombing of a car outside the terminal gate of the Awang Airport in Cotabato City on Feb. 20, 2003 that left one person dead and several others wounded. According to an International Police-United Nations Security Council Special Notice, Ayeras is among the people associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban. For being on the list of terrorists, Ayeras is covered by the UN sanction on asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo. Authorities said Ayeras is also a "pioneer member" of the notorious Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a group of Christian converts to Islam that US and Philippine officials say is allied with the Jemaah Islamiyah and the extremist Abu Sayyaf group. He supposedly attended a para-military training at the RSM camp in Pangasinan in 2002. He eluded arrest when authorities raided the area that year. He was also said to have attended a training at a camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao in 2003. Police also said Ayeras was particularly "handpicked" by RSM leader Hilarion “Ahmad" Santos to carry out the botched operation called "Big Bang," which targeted several establishments in Metro Manila. The planned attack was foiled in March 2005 when authorities raided a warehouse in Fairview, Quezon City, and seized around 600 kilograms of explosives. — LBG/KBK, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT