Police raid Quiapo blast suspect’s hideout

MANILA, Philippines - Police swooped down yesterday on a house at the Islamic Center in Quiapo, Manila believed to be the hideout of one of the suspects in the explosion that left 13 people wounded on April 28.

The raid on a house in Barangay 648, Zone 67 resulted in the arrest of a man and recovery of a bag containing bomb components at around 3 a.m.

Operatives led by the special operations and intelligence units of the Manila Police District (MPD) missed their target.

Police said they were looking for a man whose son was beaten up by three brothers at the corner of Soler street and Quezon Boulevard.

Reports said the father threatened to get back at the siblings, saying “pasasabugin ko kayo (I will blow you up).”

Prior to the raid, another police team chased a suspect along Palanca street but failed to arrest him.

 MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel refused to comment on the raid, but a source said the raiders arrested a man believed to be the suspect’s brother-in-law.

The source said they received information that the house was being rented by individuals who could be involved in terrorism.

An improvised explosive device went off in Quiapo on April 28 during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila.

The Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the blast.

Coronel maintained that the explosion was a result of a brawl between rival gangs and not connected with any terror group.

Police have launched a manhunt for five suspects in the explosion.