Man selling bomb-making compo

Ammonium Nitrate (Photo by Phil Whitehouse/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police have placed under investigation a man they arrested in possession of bomb-making components in a coastal village of this city, a top police official said Monday.

Arrested in a law enforcement operation was Pagal Nasang Aliapan, 35, a resident of of Malamawi Island, Isabela City, Basilan province.

Aliapan is allegedly involved in the illegal sale of bomb-making components.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, said Aliapan was arrested at around 1 p.m. Sunday at his temporary residence in Arena Blanco, a coastal barangay in this city.

Beltran disclosed that Aliapan was arrested after he sold bomb-making component in exchange for PhP500 to an undercover policeman.

He said confiscated from the residence of Aliapan were the following: 75 pieces of blasting caps; 17 pieces detonating cords; three plastic bags of one kilo ammonium nitrate; 10 plastic bags of half kilo; 15 sacks of 25 kilos ammonium nitrates; one electrical cutter; and, P500 mark money.

He said Aliapan was detained at the headquarters of Police Station 6 for proper disposition.

Beltran lauded the arresting team of policemen for a job well-done and commended the efforts of community for providing information which led to the arrest of the suspect.