2014 Ninoy Aquino International Airport bombing plot
Façade of NAIA Terminal 3 | |
Date | 1 September, 2014 |
---|---|
Cause | Anti-Chinese resentment |
Organised by | United States Allied Freedom Fighters of the East |
Outcome | Plot foiled, multiple arrests |
In September 2014, terminal three of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was the target of a foiled bombing plot.[1]
Plot
Three individuals were arrested, and the motivation was initially speculated to be related to Islamist militants.[2] The airport was not the only target of the plotters; others included the SM Mall of Asia, an office building, and the Chinese embassy in Manila.[3] The office building is owned by DMCI Holdings, a company owned by Chinese Filipinos.[4] The arrested individuals were later found to be part of a group calling itself "USAFFE", taking the name from the World War II United States Army Forces in the Far East.[3]
Aftermath
Authorities later arrested the leader of the thirteen-year-old organization, a lawyer; previously he was a lawyer for the Moro National Liberation Front.[5] The National Bureau of Investigation stated that the arrest was not related to the bomb plot, but to an "attack" on EDSA in 2004.[6] The "attack" is claimed to be a "protest" by the lawyer, who lost in the 2004 Philippine presidential elections.[7] The lawyer later stated that he did not want his associates to bomb the airport, but to use the explosives on Chinese ships in the Spratly Islands.[5] The lawyer was released on bail.[8]
The lawyer calls his organization "United States Allied Freedom Fighters of the East".[8] Justice Secretary Leila de Lima called the actions of the group "misguided".[9] The Director General of the National Security Council called the group a "dubious organisation led by delusional leaders."[5] The Philippine Armed Forces called the bomb plot "comic relief", while the National Bureau of Investigation did not dismiss the attack.[10]
Effects
The three arrested individuals were charged with illegal possession of explosives. All were represented by a single lawyer, with ties to the Marcos presidency, who claimed that the three are fall guys in a plot by the Aquino Administration to create instability to allow the constitution to be amended so that President Aquino can serve more than one term.[11] The charges were later endorsed by the Department of Justice, but charges of illegal possession of firearms were dropped.[12]
Following the bombing plot, and an unrelated kidnapping of a Chinese teenager, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning advising its nationals not to travel to the Philippines.[13]
References
- ↑ Joseph, Elizabeth; Cullinane, Susannah (1 September 2014). "Alleged bomb plot foiled at Manila airport, state-run media report". United States: CNN. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Mogato, Manuel; Birsel, Robert (1 September 2014). "Philippines foils car-bomb plot at airport, shopping mall". Reuters. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- 1 2 Martel, Frances (2 September 2014). "Philippine Authorities Foil Bomb Plot in Manila Airport By Anti-China Extremist Group". Breitbart. United States. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Larano, Cris; Cuneta, Josephine (2 September 2014). "Philippines Airport Bomb Plotters Allegedly Planned Attacks on Chinese Targets in Manila". Wall Street Journal. United States. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- 1 2 3 Dacanay, Barabara Mae (4 September 2014). "Ringleader in Philippine airport bomb plot arrested". Gulf News. United Arab Emeritus. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Alamar, Noel (4 September 2014). "Ely Pamatong arrested". Philippines: ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Galupo, Rey (6 September 2014). "Pamatong posts bail, admits knowing bomb suspects". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- 1 2 "Pamatong vows to reclaim China-occupied territories". The Philippine Star. Philippines. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Shankar, Sneha (2 September 2014). "Philippines Arrests 3 Men Plotting To Bomb Chinese Embassy, Manila's International Airport". International Business Times. United States. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Robles, Alan (3 September 2014). "Philippines thwarts attack on Chinese embassy, arresting three plotters". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Macairan, Evelyn (3 September 2014). "'General,' cohorts in NAIA bombing attempt charged". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ Meruenas, Mark (29 September 2014). "DOJ OKs criminal raps vs. 3 in foiled NAIA bomb try". GMA News. Philippines. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ↑ "China Issues Travel Warning for The Philippines". Macau Daily Times. Macau. Associated Press. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.