Maritime police administrative officer Capt. Victorino Adriano identified the arrested bombing suspect as Gino "Noy" Ampuan, a native of Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan. Ampuan is only 18 years of age, bordering on being classified as a minor.

Adriano said higher headquarters had ordered field units to strengthen security measures at the sea ports in the Visayas and Mindanao regions after the arrest of the 18-year-old suspect.

Investigators said the suspect had claimed to have received ordered from a certain Basit Usman who was allegedly responsible for several bombings in Central Mindanao in recent years.

Maritime police have been deployed in strategic locations to detect and deter movements of suspected bombing squads.

Found in Ampuan’s possession were 90rr (M371-A1) mortar and a rifle grenade that were concealed inside a sack of bananas and sweet potatoes.

But Ampuan denied ownership of the recovered explosives, as he said somebody else had offered him R1,000 to carry the sack to Manila.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio confirmed that Ampuan is now being held at the regional PNP office for questioning but did not give further details.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who was in Bohol yesterday for the Local Peace and Security Assembly suspected that Ampuan, coming from Zamboanga, was on his way to Manila, probably to meet some people in preparation for possible terrorist activities. (Mars Mosqueda Jr.)