Man with bomb nabbed at Davao checkpoint

Editor’s Note: This story was published on March 26, 2016

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A man carrying an improvised explosive device (IED) and other bomb paraphernalia was arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Sirawan around 6 pm on Good Friday, March 25.

Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Cristobal Zaragoza identified the suspect as Roy “Steve” Bulat-Ag Moreno, 22, a resident of Sinsuat Street, Kidapawan City.

“He was riding a tricycle from Barangay Catigan. When he reached our checkpoint, he disembarked together with the van passengers. But when my personnel noticed his backpack, his attention was called. It was at this moment that the explosives were discovered,” Zaragoza told Rappler.

Zaragoza said it was Private First Class Salman Guipacan who noticed the suspect walking through the passenger lane of the checkpoint with the backpack.

He added that during the investigation, Moreno had admitted that he was carrying the IEDs allegedly upon orders of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“He admitted he was ordered by Commander Bobby of the New People’s Army front 54, who ordered him to carry the backpack to Barangay Toril, then somebody would accompany him and deliver the IEDs to Barangay Tamayong,” Zaragoza said.

Barangay Toril proper is just a kilometer away from the checkpoint.

Toril police are now preparing to file a complaint against Moreno for the illegal possession of explosives, and violation of the Omnibus Election Code. – Rappler.com