Pension house yields bomb parts

Over a hundred bullet shells and several bomb parts were found inside a room at a pension house in Malate, Manila, shortly after its male occupant checked out Tuesday morning.

Police said a janitor found pieces of M16 rifle and shotgun ammunition that had mostly been emptied of gunpowder, along with two metal pipes, blasting caps and cell phone parts.

Inspector Arnold Santos said it was possible the man may have already assembled a bomb for still-unknown reasons.

Angelito de los Santos, a receptionist at Santos pension house at the corner of Pedro Gil and Soldado Streets, said the man who used the room identified himself as Jonathan Jose of Baguio City when he checked in around 3 a.m. Monday.

De los Santos said the man was carrying a backpack and a gym bag, appeared to be 30 to 35 years old, fair skinned and of medium build. The man checked out at around 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Arnold Santos, head of the Manila Police District’s explosive and ordnance division, said the recovered items were known components for making a pipe bomb, which typically has the destructive power of two hand grenades. Nancy Carvajal and AP