DoJ files raps vs bombing suspect

A man initially identified by authorities as the one behind the deadly January 25 bus bombing in Makati City was charged by the Department of Justice on Thursday for allegedly carrying bomb materials.

However, Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said the indictment of Julane Luganao Sison for illegal possession of explosive devices and firearms had nothing to do with the blast which killed four people and wounded 14 others.

In a five-page resolution, Navera said the circumstances behind the bombing of the Newman Goldliner bus were not “material” to the case filed against Sison in connection with his arrest in Dalahican, Lucena City, on June 2.

Seized from him were two hand grenades, an improvised shotgun, C4 and TNT explosives, cell phones, several SIM cards, electrical wires and a fan knife.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) had conflicting reports about Sison’s alleged organizational affiliation.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesperson, said Sison was a bomb expert of the communist New People’s Army who also used the aliases Ryan Jula, Julane Sison and Jule.

But in his report to the PNP, Isafp chief Major General Romulo Bambao said Sison was actually an Abu Sayyaf bandit “believed to be responsible [for] the bombing incident inside a Newman Goldliner bus.”

In his defense, Sison denied that he was the man named Ryan Jula who was ordered arrested by Compostela Valley Regional Trial Court Judge Hilarion Clapis Jr. for the killing of Cristobal Jakiri Gulam and Senior Police Officer 2 Rex Takasan three years ago.

The accused claimed he was just a victim of mistaken identity but Navera said Takasan’s brother, Vedorin, was able to identify Sison as among those who shot dead his brother in 2008.