Police uncover ‘bomb for hire’ group in Maguindanao

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato—A suspected member of what police claim to be a “bomb for hire” group was killed and a companion arrested during a police operation in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, on Friday.

Citing a field report from the Maguindanao police, Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified the slain man as Nadzir Pakasi Mongkas and his arrested companion as Rahib Pelandoc Guialudin alias “Jerome Guialadin” and alias “Candao.”

Police said Guialudin and Mongkas belonged to a suspected bomb-for-hire group operating in Maguindanao.

The arresting officers seized from the suspects three units of .50-caliber Barrette sniper rifles, one M-16 Armalite rifle, one ultimax submachine gun, two .45-caliber pistols, two empty magazines for Armalite rifle, alarm clock boxes, a complete set of improvised explosive device.

The two suspects were on a multi-cab reportedly owned by one Montasser Amulan of Barangay Malala, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, when the lawmen flagged them down on the Tacurong City-North Cotabato highway.

Guialudin was allegedly a member of the Tamengkog Group, believed to be involved in bomb-making and gun-running activities.

Police are determining whether the two were involved in a series of bomb attacks in the region last month.

The alleged involvement of a “bomb-for-hire” group surfaced in Army and police intelligence reports following the August 5 bombing in Cotabato City that killed eight persons and wounded about 40 others.