No plea for suspected LRT bomber

The prime suspect in the bombing of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) three years ago refused to enter a plea during his second arraignment for the charges at a Manila court yesterday.

Accused Hadji Yunos Moklis, alias Saifullah Yunos, chose to keep silent during the arraignment held inside the jampacked sala of Manila Judge Cielito Grulla of Regional Trial Court Branch 29.

With his refusal to enter any plea, Grulla entered a plea of "not guilty" for Moklis as provided for under the law.

Moklis, through his lawyer Fidel Macauyag, withdrew an earlier plea of guilty to multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder for the bombing of an LRT coach that killed 12 and left scores wounded on Dec. 30, 2000.

He claimed police tortured him into admitting the charges, which he did not fully understand. The charges, were written in English and Tagalog. Moklis claims he understands only Maranao.

State Prosecutor Peter Ong said they are not bothered by the change of plea, noting that he had conversations with Moklis in several occasions during which he fluently spoke English and Tagalog.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Grulla also granted the prosecution’s motion to have Moklis transferred from PACER detention cell at Camp Crame in Quezon City to Camp Papa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Ong said Moklis could be provided with better and tighter security in Bicutan. Moklis will be detained along with other suspected members of terrorist groups facing trial for various offenses. – Cecille Suerte Felipe