THE three suspects accused of involvement in the deadly blast at a night market in Davao City in September denied all the charges against them.
Suspects TJ Tagadaya Makabalang, Wendel Facturan, and Musali Mustapha submitted their respective counter-affidavits during a preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday.
The documents were not given to the media but according to Ma. Eliza Jonalyn Barquez, the suspects' legal counsel, the three denied in their affidavits the charges filed against them by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The three suspects who are alleged members of the Maute group are facing criminal charges for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Illegal Possession of Explosives Law.
Barquez added the three also denied the reports of the CIDG that they were arrested in a checkpoint in Cotabato City.
"There was no checkpoint," Barquez said.
The PNP-CIDG earlier said that the three suspects were nabbed in a checkpoint in Cotabato on October 4.
Seized from the suspects were materials used for making an improvised explosive device, a sub-machine gun and a cal .45 pistol.
The authorities also confiscated their cellphones where they found a video recording of the September 2 bombing in Davao City.
Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the case is now submitted for resolution.
The bombing attack at the Roxas market in Davao City killed at least 15 and injured 70. It prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in his home province. (Sunnex)
