IED-making components found at Nobleza’s home in Malaybalay, Bukidnon

April 25, 2017 - 11:40 PM
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CIDG PSupt Maria Cristina Nobleza
File photo of Supt. Maria Cristina Nobleza, deputy regional chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory in Region 11 .

Butuan City – Components for making an improvised explosive device, or IED, along with firearms and ammunition, were unraveled Monday morning after law enforcers searched the home of Police Supt Maria Christina Nobleza in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

“The raid, spearheaded by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) discovered within the residence of Nobleza 66 pieces of non-electric blasting caps together with other components used to assemble an IED. The team also discovered an M-16 automatic rifle and a cal.45 pistol with magazines and ammunitions” Police Supt Lemuel Gonda, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) in Cagayan de Oro City, reported.

Gonda added that several individuals who were encountered inside Nobleza’s house were detained for investigation.

“Several individuals were inside the house during the raid, namely; 22-year-old Al Mohammar Bayani of Barangay San Juan, Baroy town in Lanao del Norte, and a 13- and 14-year old, both from the same town as Bayani. The minors will be turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD),” said Gonda.

The search, said Gonda, was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Ma. Theresa Aban-Camannong, Executive Judge of Regional Trail Court Branch 9.

The search was carried out at around 9:00 in the evening of April 24, 2017 in Pine Hills Executive Homes, Purok 5, Barangay Casisang in Malaybalay City.

Operatives from Police Regional Ooffice-10, and -7, the Malaybalay City Police Office, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and soldiers from the 403rd Philippine Army Brigade, comprised the raiding team.”

Last April 22, the 49-year-old police officer, holding the position of Deputy Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Lab in Davao City, was arrested with Renierlo Dongon, the suspected Abu Sayyaf member after they tried to evade a police checkpoint in Clarin, Bohol.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) said that Dongon, the suspected Abu Sayyaf member caught in Bohol with Nobleza, has a standing warrant of arrest for double murder with attempted murder logged at the Regional Trial Court Branch 23 for the bombing of Maxandrea Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City back in October 2012, which killed two people and wounded two policemen.