Philippine Valentine's Day bombing suspect arrested

One of the prime suspects in the 2005 Valentine's Day bombing in Makati city, metro Manila has been arrested, Philippine police said on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Romeo Ricardo, police Intelligence Group chief, said Ricardo Perez-Ayeras alias Abdul Kareem Ayeras or Abdul Mujib was arrested by agents of the unit on Jan. 3 in Quezon province.

Ayeras, who authorities have tagged as one of the pioneer members of the Rajah Solaiman Islamic Movement (RSIM), allegedly composed of radical converts to Islam, is facing rebellion charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

Six people were killed and more than 90 others wounded when a bomb ripped through a crowded bus in Makati on Feb. 14, 2005.

In March 2005, Ayeras went into hiding after police and military operatives raided the RSIM safehouse in Quezon, seizing 600 kilograms of explosives and bomb-making paraphernalia authorities said were supposed to be used for more bombings.

Source: Xinhua