Terror suspect 'worked for Embassy for two years'

DEPORTED: Terror suspect Ruben Omar Pestano Lavilla Junior worked at the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain for two years.

Security could be stepped up at the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain after it emerged a suspected terrorist managed to get a job there as a part-time translator.

Ruben Omar Pestano Lavilla Junior, 35, is alleged to be the mastermind of the world's deadliest terrorist attack at sea, but managed to land the job and hold it for around two years, it has emerged.

He was extradited to the Philippines on Friday after being arrested in Bahrain for his alleged role in the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay, which killed 116 people in 2004.

More than 900 people were on board the 10,192-tonne vessel, which was heading to Cagayan de Oro City, when it burst into flames and sank on February 27.

According to the Gulf Daily News on Tuesday, Lavilla is understood to have fled the Philippines a month after the bombing and reportedly lived in Saudi Arabia before settling in Bahrain two years ago.

A senior embassy official confirmed that Mr Lavilla had worked for the diplomatic mission since 2006.

He said plans were now being made to change embassy procedures after Mr Lavilla's arrest.

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