A suspected bomber, allegedly a big-time gunrunner with links to operators in Mindanao and Quiapo, Manila, was arrested in Talavera town on Friday, immediately sparking fears in the camp of opposition presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the suspect may be linked with an earlier assassination plot against him. Confiscated from Mario Barrientos, who dealt in explosives and had âclientsâ in Quiapo, were seven Claymore mines, a C-4 detonator, a baby Armalite and two Beretta pistols. He was arrested in barangay Pula in Talavera, one of the towns Lacson visited while he was campaigning in Nueva Ecija. Police could not establish yet if Barrientos has networks with terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf. The ABS-CBN early evening newscast described Barrientos as a Muslim convert.
Even Lacsonâs supporters were alarmed over the incident, saying they do not discount the possibility that the target of the suspected bomber could be the former chief of the National Police (PNP). According to Lacson, he was worried with the bomb threat not because of fears for his personal safety but for his supporters who join his campaign sorties.
| Now, me, when bombs are involved, I worry about my personal safety. I could never work up the urge to become flying meat. |
Malacañang, however, assured the public that all security measures are in place to avert any possible terrorist attack following the arrest of Barrientos. President Arroyo, in her speech at the Villamor Air Base, where the No. 10 most wanted kidnapper was presented to her, congratulated authorities for the capture of the suspected terrorist. She said the capture âprevented an attack,â which, she said, could have been undertaken with âexplosives.â
No doubt to "kill people ..."
Lacson hailed the police for the immediate arrest of the bomber, thus preventing a potential chaos. âIf he went scot-free, innocent people could have been hurt. The police should be commended for this,â Lacson noted. Last month Lacsonâs security aide, Chief Supt. Francisco Zubia, said he and his men had to strengthen security following reports of an assassination plot on Lacson which they had been receiving since February. âWe cannot speculate now, but we cannot discount the possibility either. Weâll see how police investigators handle this,â Zubia said. Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a news briefing that authorities are probing the links of the suspected terrorist. âWe will know who is connected to the arrested man. We know that the authorities, the Armed Forces and the police are always on alert, and they have not lowered their guard and they will continue to monitor groups that can foment chaos in the country,â he said. He declined to comment on whether the suspected terrorist is a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, he said, remained a âspent forceâ because of the arrest of its leaders and its reported dwindling funds.
| Picked up Khadaffy yet?... Didn't think so. |
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