2002 hotel explosion
The Evergreen Hotel explosion took place on May 16, 2002 in Davao City, Philippines. Guest Michael Meiring was severely injured. The explosion was allegedly caused by dynamite kept by Meiring inside his room at the hotel.
History.
The explosion occurred inside the room of American oncologist Michael Meiring. Meiring had reportedly been treasure hunting in the country since the 1990s. The explosion was allegedly caused by dynamite he was keeping inside the room. Meiring was confined at the Davao Doctors Hospital after he sustained third-degree burns and had his leg amputated.
On May 19, 2002, agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reportedly brought Meiring to Manila through a chartered flight allegedly arranged by the US Embassy in Manila. By May 22, he was confined at the Makati Medical Center. Meiring's insurance did not cover the American's bills at the Davao Medical Center which is the reported reason for his transfer.
Michael Terrence Manning.
Meiring is a former citizen of South Africa. He reportedly practiced medicine for the South African police and was affiliated with the African National Congress.
David Hawthorn, a close friend of Meiring, claimed that his friend confessed to giving a box of US currency to the South African government. The box was one of 12, each estimated to contain $500 million. Meiring secured permits from the Fidel Ramos administration to hunt for treasure in sunken American and Japanese ships. He later partnered with a Manila-based group that had links to James Rowe. According to American intelligence analyst Dan Crawford, Rowe was linked to a Nevada white supremacist and tax revolt group that had connection the Neo-Nazi Party in the United States and the Fifth Reich group of Germany.
Meiring's American friends suspected that the Manila group conspired against him.
Legacy.
In May 2016, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte attributed the event to causing his "hatred" towards the United States. Duterte condemned the United States government for assisting the criminal Meiring in leaving the country, disregarding the Philippine legal process. He called the alleged act disrespectful of Philippine sovereignty. Duterte says that he received no apology from the United States.
Duterte was Mayor of Davao City at the time of the incident. At that time, Duterte said Meiring was responsible for the incident, nd that he refused to cooperate with the police when they searched his room before the explosion.
References.
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