Davao 2003 blast suspects seek case dismissal

DAVAO CITY – The five suspects in the twin blasts that rocked Davao City in 2003 have asked the Regional Trial Court here to dismiss their  case due to lack of evidence that would pin them down on the charges against them.

The five suspects have been detained for over four years now at the Ma-a city jail here after they were arrested immediately following the blasts that separately ripped through the waiting shed at  the old Davao International Airport last March 4, 2003 and the subsequent bombing of the passenger terminal of the Sasa Wharf.

The two bombings claimed the lives of at least 40 people and injured more than 300 others.

Suspects Ting Idar, Tohame Bagundang, Esmael Akmad, Ismael Mamalangkas and Jimmy Balulao, filed last week a demurrer to evidence before  the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 here wherein they again asserted their innocence to the charges. The five suspects also pointed out that the evidence against them was weak and that there were certain technicalities in their arrest which they claimed to be illegal.

RTC Branch 12 Judge Pelagio Paguican has reportedly instructed the prosecution to comment on the motion of the five suspects.

Records bared that authorities first arrested Bagundang and Balualo in 2003 wherein the two also implicated the three  other suspects.   – Edith Regalado