TEMPO.CO, Manila - The plot behind the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Bombing attempt has surfaced. The three suspects acted following their disappointment by the government’s stand towards China regarding the territorial waters issue. "They claimed they wanted to call the attention of the government to its soft stance [on the territorial dispute with China], like the [standoff] at Ayungin Shoal," said the source from the Philippines National Bureau of Investigations (NBI).
The suspects were found carrying six "improvised explosive devices" (including banned firecrackers such as Goodbye Philippines wrapped in round bottles with gasoline) in the vehicle, a Toyota Revo with a license plate: WMK 129. The pipe bomb was placed in Terminal 3, but was foiled by security officials before it was set off.
Documents urging the government to take a tougher stand in the territorial dispute with China and criticizing the administration for allowing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to conduct back-channel talks with the Chinese were also found in the vehicle.
The leader of the group was identified as Grandeur Guerrero. Philippine’s secretary of justice Leila de Lima said that Guerrero was a former military and secret police agent who was involved in the 1980’s coup.
However, de Lima said they were still investigating other motives because the group also planned on attacking those involved in the Chinese business community. Such as the SM Mall of Asia, which is owned by one of the richest men in the Philippines, Henry Sy, who was born in China.
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