Detained suspects in twin Davao bombings recant statement

DAVAO CITY — Four of the six detained suspects in the twin bombings in Davao City early this year have recanted their earlier statements and are now saying they had no hand in the bombings that hit a waiting shed outside the Davao International Airport and a row of food stalls at the entrance of the Sasa wharf passenger terminal last March 4 and April 2, respectively.

The four suspects, who are now detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), were among the last witnesses to testify before the Presidential Commission tasked to investigate the alleged involvement of the military, particularly former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, in the twin bombings.

The suspects are facing charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder before the Regional Trial Court here for the two bombings that left 39 people dead and over 200 others wounded.

Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida, who is one of the members of the five-man panel headed by Sta. Ana Parish priest Fr. Pedro Maniwang, said suspects Esmael Mamalangkas, Ismael Akmad, Tohame Bagundang and a 17-year old, have recanted their earlier extra-judicial confessions admitting participation in the airport and seaport bombings.

Bagundang told the members of the panel he was tortured into admitting participation in the bombings and that he was made to sign documents, the contents of which he did not understand at all.

The four were also accompanied by their legal counsel Hamlet Pahm, who insisted on their innocence. But it was only Bagundang who was asked by the panel to answer queries while Pahm represented the three others.

The Justice Undersecretary explained the four suspects were summoned before the panel to shed light on their involvement on the case but the import of their testimonies should be left to the courts.