Armyand Politician coddles suspect in Cotabato City bombings

COTABATO CITY - The man believed to bebehind the series of bomb attacks in Cotabato City last week is being coddled by an elected official, the Army here said.Speaking during the Security Summit Wednesday morning, Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, commander of the 5th Army Special Forces, said Ruben Montes alias Black Moro is the prime suspect in the rash of bombings aimed at getting back at government forces. Siya yung first suspect namin (He is our primary suspect), because he has the intent, the capability and he got that opportunity to hit us, Sevilla told the Security Summit attended by local officials, police, military, military intelligence communityand officials of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. This iscoincidental kasi unang suspek namin dahil nga nakalaya si Black Moro, ito may challenge now sa publiko at sa media na dapat alamin natin ano ang circumstances bakit siya nakalaya yung gamit ang property bond (This is coincidental, because Black Moro was freed,this is now our challenge to the public and the media why he was released using a property bond.), Sevilla added.Montes, who was charged with illegal possession of firearms,was freed on Friday on orders of the court.He and his group traded shots with Army Special Forces along SK Pendatun Avenue after his group shot dead a man nearby.Montes' wife, his brother and a companion, were killed while he was arrested.Sevilla did not name the elected official who he said was coddling Montes.But Sevilla said the Army is not discounting the possible involvement of persons engaged in illegal drug trade. Second we cannot discount the possibility na marami kaming naapakan na mga drug syndicate dahil sa extensive illegal drug campaign, operations, then third of course yung BIFF, because they had the capability,” Sevilla said.