Filipino bombing suspect in custody

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Police in the Philippines have the key suspect in the deadly bombing of a superferry in custody thanks to authorities in Bahrain, an official says.

Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said Saturday that Ruben Pestano Lavilla Jr. was deported from Bahrain to face charges in the Philippines for the bombing that killed at least 116 people more than four years ago, CNN reported.

The suspected terrorist leader was arrested in the Persian Gulf country last month and deportation preparations began soon after.

Blancaflor said Lavilla is a top official in the Islamic group, Rajah Solaiman Movement, which allegedly have connections to the al-Qaida terrorist groups Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf.

The undersecretary told CNN Lavilla is suspected of being the mastermind of the superferry bombing.