Man with blast materials nabbed in Cotabato City

A man was arrested in Cotabato City on Thursday for alleged possession of materials used in making an improvised explosive device (IED). Cotabato City police head Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane identified the suspect as Karadji Alari, 32, of Maimbung, Sulu but currently residing in Barangay Mother Bagua, Cotabato City. Authorities said they apprehended the "suspicious-looking" suspect after they were alerted by a village watchman that he tried evading a police checkpoint at Barangay Mother Bagua. Seized from Alari were a kilogram of a chemical suspected to be ammonium nitrate and three improvised blasting caps containing high explosives substance. Two sticks of matches, said to be used as a triggering devices, were also found in the suspect's possession. The police said the arrested suspect would be charged with illegal possession of explosives for violating Republic Act 9516. Further investigation is being conducted as of posting time to determine Alari's motive for keeping such illegal materials. The arrest came two weeks after an IED placed inside a passenger bus in the neighboring province of North Cotabato exploded and killed 10 people and injured 30 others. –VVP, GMANews.TV