Man with grenade nabbed in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Policemen on Wednesday prevented what could have been another bombing in the city by intercepting a motorcycle-riding man with a live grenade in his trouser pocket.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, director of the Cotabato City police, identified the suspect as Esmael Gandawali, who first tried to evade policemen guarding a roadblock at Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here, but was eventually cornered and arrested after a brief chase.

Police and Army intelligence units are still trying to determine if Gandawali has links with the slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir and his ethnic Maguindanaon cohort, Abdul Basit Usman.

Gandawali was driving a motorcycle which policemen tried to stop as he came close for a routine inspection.

The suspect, instead of pulling over, immediately turned around and sped away.

He was later cornered at an intersection some three blocks away, where he eventually yielded after sensing that pursuing lawmen were ready to shoot him if he would resist arrest.

Balquin said they will charge Gandawali with illegal possession of explosives, adding that they will also file robbery charges against the suspect if probers can confirm that the motorcycle seized from him was stolen from someone.

Balquin said Gandawali failed to present any registration document that can prove he owns the motorcycle.