Ex-cop in Metro bomb scare yields

A dismissed police officer and another suspect have been detained in connection with a plot to stage bombings ahead of the inauguration of President Arroyo tomorrow, the defense department said yesterday.

Former police superintendent Roberto Camarista surrendered Friday night to Assistant Defense Secretary Ricardo Blancaflor in Malolos City in Bulacan through a third-party intermediary.

Camarista has confessed to "masterminding the planting of improvised bombs in Metro Manila," Blancaflor told reporters.

Camarista’s surrender came just hours after the alleged financier of their group, identified as Ben Sim, was arrested in an anti-terrorism stakeout in Quezon City.

Security forces last week raided Camarista’s house in Cainta, Rizal and seized bomb-making materials, but failed to apprehend him. Three caretakers were detained, one of whom linked Camarista to the plot to bring down the government.

Following the raid, Camarista’s eight-year-old son was left under the care of his neighbor in Cainta.

Apparently worried of his child’s welfare, Camarista was forced to come out of hiding, said Blancaflor.

Camarista was dismissed from police service in 1997 for alleged extortion activities and grave misconduct charges.

He is also said to be a lawyer who "acted as leader of the group as they discussed how to bring down the government," Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said earlier.

On initial interrogation, Blancaflor claimed Camarista admitted to masterminding the "planting" of improvised explosive devices early this month in Metro Manila - outside a church in the Makati financial district, near the interior department building and in a restaurant near the defense department in Quezon City.

The improvised explosive devices were found and disarmed on June 20 and June 21.

Camarista is facing charges of rebellion, Blancaflor said.

Authorities said the failed bombing plots in Metro Manila was part of a grand plot to destabilize the government. Camarista will further be investigated by National Bureau of Investigation before the filing of charges against him. Sim, on the other hand, has been turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Camp Crame.

Blancaflor said an ongoing operation to account for the rest of Camarista’s group is underway.

Camarista and Sim’s detention followed warnings that some groups may try to disrupt the inauguration of Mrs. Arroyo, who was proclaimed winner of the disputed May 10 presidential election last week.

The opposition has accused the Arroyo administration of cheating and has refused to concede defeat.

The suspects’ political affiliations however weren’t clear.

Mrs. Arroyo, who survived a military rebellion last year, earlier warned of "adventurist plots" by certain groups seeking to take advantage of the political uncertainty following the May 10 vote.

Blancaflor said authorities remained on alert for potential disturbances ahead of the Arroyo inauguration. "We’ll just continue to be on alert," he said.

Authorities seized from Camarista’s house 165 pounds of ammonium nitrate and pieces of detonating cords, blasting caps, alarm clocks, C-4 explosives, cans of gasoline, and guns.

One of the arrested caretakers said that the ammonium nitrate, which can be used as a component for improvised explosive devices, was delivered to the house on June 17. He added that Camarista led six unfamiliar looking men in assembling bombs and discussing targets. - with AP, AFP