IED found with explosive capacity of three grenades and more
(Eagle News) — The police have recovered more high-powered firearms and ammunition–including an improvised explosive device that has the explosive capacity of three grenades and more–from the house in Quezon City which Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo occupied until his arrest on March 2.
Electricians who were fixing the wiring in #36 Tandang Sora found the cache inside an elevated hidden room that was behind what appeared to be a locked window.
The electricians reported their finding to the compound’s security department, which in turn called the police after they saw a bomb-looking device inside.
An inventory by the police said recovered from the house were an Akkar Silah Sanayi Altay 12-gauge shotgun, a 7.62 M14 Winchester, US assault rifle, a 5.56 Stern Ruger rifle, and a Squibman 12-gauge shotgun.
Also found were multiple shell casings, bulletproof vests, body armor, and three .40mm ammunition for a grenade launcher and other bullets assembled together with a wire.
Investigators said this was an IED which would have had devastating impact had it exploded.
“It has a killing range of ten meters,” a bomb officer said.
There is a law punishing the illegal assembling of explosives in the country.
The police are also checking if the proper documentation was secured for these high-powered weapons.
Manalo, who is facing a complaint for illegal possession of firearms, is detained–with no bail-— at Camp Bagong Diwa following his arrest. (https://www.eaglenews.ph/featured-news/angel-manalo-2-others-transferred-to-camp-bagong-diwa-district-jail/)
He was arrested after two policemen who were part of the team serving a search warrant in #36 Tandang Sora–P02 Henry Hular and P02 Joemarie Oandasan—were shot at.
Hular was critically wounded, after he sustained gunshot wounds in the shoulder and the stomach.
Oandasan was hit by a bullet in the foot.
The police had secured the search warrant following a shooting incident that saw two security guards injured on February 27.
Also arrested then were Jonathan Ledesma, a former soldier, and Manalo’s nephew Victor Erano “Jem” Hemedez.
Ledesma, a Philippine Navy “deserter” who was positively identified as the one who shot Oandasan and Pular, faces a complaint of direct assault with frustrated murder. (https://www.eaglenews.ph/national/inc-investigating-t-sora-disturbance-man-with-gun-from-hemedez-camp-identified-as-navy-deserter/)
Hemedez faces one for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Also rounded up on March 2 were Lolita “Lottie” Hemedez, Joseph Sabbaluca, Katrina Rachel Manalo Hemedez, Jennifer Jane Wong Manalo, Jessica Nathania Wong Manalo, Felix Erano Wong Manalo, Miriam Moreno, Emmanuel Villanueva Vina, Robert Valencia Morales, Leonida Villamor Morales, Mercedez Leganada, Babylyn Casidsid Santiago, Ramon Gumba Palima, Mark Atup Soberano, Jojo Indek Moreno, Jomer Sanchez Moreno, Gener Valbuena Lumbang Jr., Errol Gerolaga Sumait, Joel Aziel Yuson Canta, Salvacion Cabillan, Catalina Cabillan Martinez, Joel Mesina Martinez, Arnel R. Arellano and Jim Jarold B. Fedelin.
Fifty-six high-powered firearms, 18 short guns, magazines and 17, 985 bullets were then recovered by the search team from another secret room. With a report from Jerold Tagbo