Basilan bombing suspect arrested in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect in the bombing in Lamitan, Basilan last month that left 11 people dead and eight others wounded was arrested in Cebu yesterday.

Oger Pelonio, 68, who is also tagged in gun smuggling and extortion in the Visayas and Mindanao, was collared by personnel of the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency, Military Intelligence Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Central Visayas police at his residence in Barangay Ocaña, Carcar City at about 3:16 a.m.

The arrest was based on a warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 18.

Police said Pelonio, with aliases of Juncal and Aktoy, was identified as the person who sent a text message to Roderick Furigay, vice mayor of Lamitan, on the bomb plot.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, said two caliber .45 pistols, an Ingram machine pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, C4 explosives, a hand grenade, two rifle grenades, a holster and various types of ammunition were recovered from the suspect.

Sinas said the raiding team also confiscated eight aerial maps, a bomb sketch, a Huawei tablet, a Muslim cap, seven mobile phones and a pocket WiFi.

Pelonio was brought to the regional office of the CIDG for documentation and turnover to the custody of the court.