Operatives nab 4th suspect in foiled bomb plot in Manila

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Elmer Romero, fourth suspect in the attempted bombing near US Embassy arrested.)

The fourth suspect in the foiled plot to bomb an area near the US Embassy in Manila was nabbed by police intelligence operatives in Subic, Zambales.

The arrest of the suspect was disclosed by PNP National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde.

He did not identify the terror suspect but a source identifed the 'person of interest' as Elmer Romero y Cabuhat.

He was arrested on Wednesday night.

“Romero tried but failed to escape,” the source said.

During the press briefing led by Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Thursday morning, police presented an improvised explosive device (IED), the second bomb to be recovered since the discovery of the first one along Roxas Boulevard. 

Dela Rosa said the IED was made using the ammunition for a 105mm Howitzer canon.

“This is more lethal than any mortar round,” dela Rosa noted. 

Albayaldle said it was the fourth suspect (Romero) who led the police to the place where the bomb was hidden at Doña Juanita Subdivision in Barangay Sta. Ana, Bulakan, Bulacan.