Yunos transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa

Top terrorist Muklis Yunos, who was arrested for his participation in the simultaneous bombings in Metro Manila in December 2000, was transferred from his custodian cell at Camp Crame in Quezon City to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig yesterday morning.

Superintendent Erik Reyes, head of the PNP custodial cell, said Yunos was moved from the main PNP custodial center located at the back of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) to the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center in Taguig at around 10:30 a.m.

Reyes told reporters that Yunos’ transfer was covered by an order from the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 29 Judge Cielito Mindaro-Grulla. RTC Branch 29 is hearing the multiple murder case filed against him in connection with the Rizal Day bombing that ripped an LRT coach in Blumentritt station in Manila and a passenger bus in Cubao, Quezon City. Bombs also simultaneously exploded in an undeveloped lot near a gasoline station in Makati City and Plaza Ferguson across the US Embassy in Manila.

At least 18 people were killed while scores were injured during the simultaneous attacks allegedly launched by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to avenge military offensives at Camp Abu Bakar in Central Mindanao.

Yunos has been at the PNP custodial cell since July 17, 2003 after the Ordoñez Commission recommended the construction of a centralized jail system inside Camp Crame.

The Ordoñez Commission was formed by Malacañang to investigate the escape of three high-profile prisoners including top Jemaah Islamiyah operations man, Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, who was later killed with another escapee, Abdulmukin Edris, in an encounter in Naga Dimaporo in Lanao.

Yunos was arrested along with his companion by combined operatives of the Intelligence Group and the Aviation Security Group (ASG) at the Cagayan de Oro airport sometime last year. He tried to pass through tight security at the airport by putting bandages all over his face and body. But Yunos was not able to outwit the cops and he was captured.