Cops, soldiers recover 'back up' Batasan bomb

The police and the military on Tuesday night recovered a TNT (trinitrotoluene) bomb weighing five to six kilos believed to be a "back up" to the bomb used at the Batasan Pambansa complex last November 13, radio dzBB reported. The report said a "cooperative" suspect in the Batasan blast told the authorities about the "back up" explosive device said to be hidden in a hole on the cement floor of an apartment-type house in Leveriza St., Malate, Manila. Authorities from the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group defused the bomb near the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park at about 1:30 a.m. On Monday night, police and military operatives took in for interrogation Halik Usman, who was suspected to have assembled the bomb that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and three others during the explosion at Batasan. The blast also injured at least 12 persons, including Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Negros Oriental Rep. Henry Pryde Teves. Usman, was nabbed at the Don Pepe’s Inn Monday night. He was described by authorities as a native of Tuburan town in Basilan and a former member of the municipal security force. Authorities believed Usman assembled the bomb meant to kill Akbar. The congressman was reportedly the target of last week’s explosion. Usman said he knew Ikram Indama, former driver of former Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin. Indama, Khaidar Awnal and Adham Kusain were earlier charged before the justice department for the bombing. But Usman denied allegations linking him to the Batasan blast. He said he came to Manila because he planned to find work abroad. - GMANews.TV