2014 Ninoy Aquino International Airport bombing plot

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

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Mogato, Manuel; Birsel, Robert (1 September 2014). "Philippines foils car-bomb plot at airport, shopping mall". Reuters. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 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.
  6. ↑ Alamar, Noel (4 September 2014). "Ely Pamatong arrested". Philippines: ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Galupo, Rey (6 September 2014). "Pamatong posts bail, admits knowing bomb suspects". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Pamatong vows to reclaim China-occupied territories". The Philippine Star (Philippines). 8 September 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Robles, Alan (3 September 2014). "Philippines thwarts attack on Chinese embassy, arresting three plotters". South China Morning Post (Hong Kong). Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Macairan, Evelyn (3 September 2014). "'General,' cohorts in NAIA bombing attempt charged". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Meruenas, Mark (29 September 2014). "DOJ OKs criminal raps vs. 3 in foiled NAIA bomb try". GMA News (Philippines). Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "China Issues Travel Warning for The Philippines". Macau Daily Times (Macau). Associated Press. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
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