By Ronron
October 26, 2007
A Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane on Friday morning overshot the runway of the Butuan City airport in Agusan del Norte province, resulting in the wounding of 34 passengers and the main pilot.
A statement of PAL said the incident happened at around 6:25 am as PAL Flight PR 475, using an Airbus A320 aircraft, was landing there coming from Manila. The flight left at 5:10 am.
The flight was carrying 138 passengers in the economy class, 10 in the business class and six crew members, including the two pilots.
Rene Soliman, PAL Corporate Communication Manager, said they are leaving to the Air Transportation Office (ATO) the determination of the cause of the overshooting.
“We leave that to the aviation authorities to declare what is the cause. It would be self-serving if we say anything. We leave it to the ATO to make that findings,” Soliman told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
A call with the ATO remains unanswered as of press time.
Asked how far did the plane overshoot, Soliman just said: “It’s quite some distance. I don’t have the exact length.
The incident, fortunately, did not result in more serious ones like a fire. He said only the plane’s main gear, nose, and windshield were damaged, which he described to be “quite substantial.”
After the safe evacuation of the 148 passengers from the plane, authorities learned that 34 of them were complaining of either ailment or physical discomfort.
The hurt passengers were then brought to a hospital in Butuan City for medical treatment. As of 5pm, only one remains in the hospital due to high blood pressure while “the rest were treated and released accordingly,” the PAL statement said.
The company assured that “PAL teams on the ground in Butuan continue to maintain contact with the passengers, even those without complaints, to check on their condition.”
Soliman said he has not authority to disclose to the press whether or not the passengers include a Japanese national.
The incident has led to the airport’s temporary closure yesterday for commercial air traffic “as air transport authorities decide on the facility’s capability to handle flights.”
A second PAL flight was also expected to arrive Butuan City yesterday at 12:20 pm. The airport also accommodates a flight from Cebu Pacific Airlines./DMS
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Army leadership removes 26 enlisted personnel from the service due to alleged participation in the alleged February 2006 coup plot
By Ronron
October 25, 2007
The Philippine Army leadership has discharged from the service and released from detention 26 of the 40 enlisted personnel accused of involvement in the alleged February 2006 coup plot.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano issued the order that took effect Wednesday due to a “great preponderance of evidence against the 26 that they have violated the Articles of War 67, which is Mutiny or Sedition, and Article of War 97, which is conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.”
Torres said Yano based his order upon the recommendation last year of the Adhoc Investigating Committee of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Army Inspector General to remove the 26 from the service.
But former Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, the predecessor of Yano, had opted to withhold the enforcement of the discharge recommendation until the group of officers who are dragged into the same allegation are arraigned, Torres said.
The 28 officers, led by former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, are still at the stage of exercising their right to challenge the members of the panel that will try them. Only after this can they be arraigned for violating various Articles of War.
“When Gen. Yano assumed as the new commanding general, he directed a review of the case. So, when the case of the 40 was reviewed, we found that there is no reason to delay the implementation of the discharge further,” Torres said.
“It’s been dragging for a long time already so, upon the advise of the military lawyers, the Commanding General, and after considering all the factors, he decided to remove the condition and implement the discharge,” he added.
Torres said the discharge order is based on military Circular 17, which gives the Army commander the authority to remove or discharge administratively an Enlisted Personnel from the service depending on his performance record.
“The Enlisted Personnel reenlist every three years. So the Reenlistment Board has the prerogative to extend the enlistment or not,” Torres explained.
Since they are discharged administratively, the 26 will not receive the usual benefits that a soldier normally gets when one retires honorably.
The 26 are the following: Staff Sgt. Benito Bagay, Sgt. Juanito Tercero, Jr., Sgt. Jose Famularcano, Jr., Cpl. Giovani Bonagua, Cpl. Medel Calda, Cpl. Dennis Pabillo, Cpl. Nicomedes Fernandez, Cpl. Jorie Espejo, Cpl. Rommel Pascua, Cpl. Zaldy Cabico, Cpl. Jayson Arellano, Cpl. Dennis Marzan, Pfc Pinley Amarante, Pfc Celso Castromayor, Jr., Pfc Winston Tingabngab, Pfc. Aristotle Lucena, Pfc. Kernell Mahimnayan, Pfc. Emmanuel Derilo, Pfc. Jerry Avila, Pfc. Isidro Areja, Pfc. Larry Quinto, Pfc. Rommel Puna, Pfc. Robert Palaruan, Pfc. Dylan Monton, Pfc. Arleen Garcia, and Pfc. Arvin Daligdig.
All are Scout Rangers who are based in the Bicol region but were held after they were allegedly intercepted in Sipocot, Camarines Sur while they were allegedly on their way to Metro Manila to join the anti-government efforts in February last year, Torres said.
The military had said then that some officers and soldiers will join the planned mass gathering on October 24.
Torres said the 26 were already released from jail by noontime Thursday after undergoing medical check-up.
The Army leadership, meanwhile, has yet to decide on the case of the 14 other enlisted personnel.
Atty. Vicente Verdadero, the lawyer of the enlisted personnel, said the discharge order is illegal because “there was no formal charge” against the 26.
“Definitely, this is very much more than grave abuse of discretion… And the very cardinal question is this – why just now? Why not immediately after the investigation? And the most important of all, what is the basis for the discharge order?” Verdadero said.
Verdadero pointed out that the 26 just moved upon the orders of the Operations Officer of the Scout Rangers Regiment, Maj. Oriel Pangcog, who was earlier cleared of any charges by the military authorities.
Asked on their action against the military, Verdadero just said: “We will sue for damages for their detention.”/DMS
October 25, 2007
The Philippine Army leadership has discharged from the service and released from detention 26 of the 40 enlisted personnel accused of involvement in the alleged February 2006 coup plot.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano issued the order that took effect Wednesday due to a “great preponderance of evidence against the 26 that they have violated the Articles of War 67, which is Mutiny or Sedition, and Article of War 97, which is conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.”
Torres said Yano based his order upon the recommendation last year of the Adhoc Investigating Committee of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Army Inspector General to remove the 26 from the service.
But former Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, the predecessor of Yano, had opted to withhold the enforcement of the discharge recommendation until the group of officers who are dragged into the same allegation are arraigned, Torres said.
The 28 officers, led by former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, are still at the stage of exercising their right to challenge the members of the panel that will try them. Only after this can they be arraigned for violating various Articles of War.
“When Gen. Yano assumed as the new commanding general, he directed a review of the case. So, when the case of the 40 was reviewed, we found that there is no reason to delay the implementation of the discharge further,” Torres said.
“It’s been dragging for a long time already so, upon the advise of the military lawyers, the Commanding General, and after considering all the factors, he decided to remove the condition and implement the discharge,” he added.
Torres said the discharge order is based on military Circular 17, which gives the Army commander the authority to remove or discharge administratively an Enlisted Personnel from the service depending on his performance record.
“The Enlisted Personnel reenlist every three years. So the Reenlistment Board has the prerogative to extend the enlistment or not,” Torres explained.
Since they are discharged administratively, the 26 will not receive the usual benefits that a soldier normally gets when one retires honorably.
The 26 are the following: Staff Sgt. Benito Bagay, Sgt. Juanito Tercero, Jr., Sgt. Jose Famularcano, Jr., Cpl. Giovani Bonagua, Cpl. Medel Calda, Cpl. Dennis Pabillo, Cpl. Nicomedes Fernandez, Cpl. Jorie Espejo, Cpl. Rommel Pascua, Cpl. Zaldy Cabico, Cpl. Jayson Arellano, Cpl. Dennis Marzan, Pfc Pinley Amarante, Pfc Celso Castromayor, Jr., Pfc Winston Tingabngab, Pfc. Aristotle Lucena, Pfc. Kernell Mahimnayan, Pfc. Emmanuel Derilo, Pfc. Jerry Avila, Pfc. Isidro Areja, Pfc. Larry Quinto, Pfc. Rommel Puna, Pfc. Robert Palaruan, Pfc. Dylan Monton, Pfc. Arleen Garcia, and Pfc. Arvin Daligdig.
All are Scout Rangers who are based in the Bicol region but were held after they were allegedly intercepted in Sipocot, Camarines Sur while they were allegedly on their way to Metro Manila to join the anti-government efforts in February last year, Torres said.
The military had said then that some officers and soldiers will join the planned mass gathering on October 24.
Torres said the 26 were already released from jail by noontime Thursday after undergoing medical check-up.
The Army leadership, meanwhile, has yet to decide on the case of the 14 other enlisted personnel.
Atty. Vicente Verdadero, the lawyer of the enlisted personnel, said the discharge order is illegal because “there was no formal charge” against the 26.
“Definitely, this is very much more than grave abuse of discretion… And the very cardinal question is this – why just now? Why not immediately after the investigation? And the most important of all, what is the basis for the discharge order?” Verdadero said.
Verdadero pointed out that the 26 just moved upon the orders of the Operations Officer of the Scout Rangers Regiment, Maj. Oriel Pangcog, who was earlier cleared of any charges by the military authorities.
Asked on their action against the military, Verdadero just said: “We will sue for damages for their detention.”/DMS
Trillanes says he has witnesses to back his allegation against the government over the Glorietta 2 blast
By Ronron
October 25, 2007
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday he has witnesses to prove that his allegations against the government as being responsible for the blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City last Friday is true.
In an interview with reporters at the Makati City court where he attended a hearing for his coup d’ etat case over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny incident, Trillanes said his camp is currently debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that has allegedly been responsible for the series of past incidents perpetrated by the government, including the October 19 explosion at Glorietta, only to ensure the survival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I am standing by my allegations… We are debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of Secretary Gonzales about past operations and he has sensitive information,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes would not say yet how his camp got in touch with said person except that he allegedly came out because he “fears for his life.”
“We have checked out the information that he gave, his background and his motivation,” the Senator said, adding that the witness is no longer connected at present to Gonzales.
Aside from the said person, Trillanes said they are currently facilitating the turning in of some other informants as co-witnesses of the former since their statements corroborate each other.
His witnesses, according to the neophyte lawmaker, would testify in general terms that “the leadership is responsible” for some incidents in the past, and that Friday’s incident in Glorietta is “not the first time the government is involved in a cover-up” just “to ensure the survival” of Arroyo.
“The PNP (Philippine National Police) is selling to the public the theory that the cause of the explosion is the pozo negro (septic tank). We can’t possible accept that. That is being debunked by experts. So this is not the first time that the PNP is involved is involved in a cover up,” Trillanes said.
He recalled that the PNP initially announced that the cause of the Superferry 14 incident in February 2004 was an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) explosion, when in fact, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) owned up to the incident.
“Eight months later, they retracted and said it was an act of terrorism,” Trillanes said.
Recently, he said the government continues to do the same for the “Hello Garci” issue, the controversial ZTE deal, and the bribery issue.
“They have mastered the art,” Trillanes said of the government, adding that that is why he refused to cooperate with the PNP when some investigators went to his detention cell in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last Saturday to get his formal statement.
Trillanes was criticized by some officials for accusing Gonzales and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. as being responsible for the blast. The allegation was made hours after the explosion happened at 1:30 pm.
“They are asking for basis? Now, I am giving you basis,” the Senator said yesterday.
However, when asked what did his witness say as to the cause of the blast, Trillanes only said: “We are processing the information.”
Pressed if the witness mentioned the use of bomb, he said: “Definitely, they have done that.”
But he refused to elaborate, saying that he intends to present his witness to a Senate investigation the he has asked for.
“I appeal to whoever would be the Chairman of the Committee that will handle this to schedule a hearing right away,” Trillanes said.
But even before the witness could show up at the Senate probe, Trillanes said he is already inviting Senators Gregorio Honasan and Francisco Pangilinan to talk his witness at an undisclosed safe house so they will be convinced that he really has basis in accusing Gonzales and Esperon.
“I do think before I talk,” Trillanes said, apparently responding to criticisms against him. “I was elected to tell the truth. I am not here to play games.”
He said he is also willing to present his witness to an independent investigating body.
Meanwhile, former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was not able to attend yesterday’s hearing at the sala of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 where he was supposed to testify for the accused Magdalo soldiers.
Atty. Vicente Verdadero told Presiding Judge Oscar Pimentel that the subpoena for Lim arrived late Wednesday afternoon, thus the lack of time to prepare for his appearance yesterday.
“Actually, I advised him not to come because we were not yet told what he will testify on. But he said he is willing to come to testify, to tell the truth about what happened. So, maybe, next time, he could come,” Verdadero said.
Defense lawyer Rene Saguisag, who moved for Lim’s appearance, said the military officer, who is himself being tried before a military tribunal for his alleged participation in the alleged February 2006 coup plot, will testify that indeed, there was an agreement on the night of July 27, 2003 that the mutineers will stand down with the assurance that only five will be prosecuted, while the rest will only be admonished or reprimanded.
Saguisag said Lim was then part of the negotiators, along with Ambassador Roy Cimatu.
Lim, who was supposed to be the first witness of the defense, is expected to take the witness stand on November 15.
Aside from Trillanes, 13 other accused attended yesterday’s hearing. The 17 other accused opted not to attend./DMS
October 25, 2007
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday he has witnesses to prove that his allegations against the government as being responsible for the blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City last Friday is true.
In an interview with reporters at the Makati City court where he attended a hearing for his coup d’ etat case over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny incident, Trillanes said his camp is currently debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that has allegedly been responsible for the series of past incidents perpetrated by the government, including the October 19 explosion at Glorietta, only to ensure the survival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I am standing by my allegations… We are debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of Secretary Gonzales about past operations and he has sensitive information,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes would not say yet how his camp got in touch with said person except that he allegedly came out because he “fears for his life.”
“We have checked out the information that he gave, his background and his motivation,” the Senator said, adding that the witness is no longer connected at present to Gonzales.
Aside from the said person, Trillanes said they are currently facilitating the turning in of some other informants as co-witnesses of the former since their statements corroborate each other.
His witnesses, according to the neophyte lawmaker, would testify in general terms that “the leadership is responsible” for some incidents in the past, and that Friday’s incident in Glorietta is “not the first time the government is involved in a cover-up” just “to ensure the survival” of Arroyo.
“The PNP (Philippine National Police) is selling to the public the theory that the cause of the explosion is the pozo negro (septic tank). We can’t possible accept that. That is being debunked by experts. So this is not the first time that the PNP is involved is involved in a cover up,” Trillanes said.
He recalled that the PNP initially announced that the cause of the Superferry 14 incident in February 2004 was an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) explosion, when in fact, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) owned up to the incident.
“Eight months later, they retracted and said it was an act of terrorism,” Trillanes said.
Recently, he said the government continues to do the same for the “Hello Garci” issue, the controversial ZTE deal, and the bribery issue.
“They have mastered the art,” Trillanes said of the government, adding that that is why he refused to cooperate with the PNP when some investigators went to his detention cell in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last Saturday to get his formal statement.
Trillanes was criticized by some officials for accusing Gonzales and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. as being responsible for the blast. The allegation was made hours after the explosion happened at 1:30 pm.
“They are asking for basis? Now, I am giving you basis,” the Senator said yesterday.
However, when asked what did his witness say as to the cause of the blast, Trillanes only said: “We are processing the information.”
Pressed if the witness mentioned the use of bomb, he said: “Definitely, they have done that.”
But he refused to elaborate, saying that he intends to present his witness to a Senate investigation the he has asked for.
“I appeal to whoever would be the Chairman of the Committee that will handle this to schedule a hearing right away,” Trillanes said.
But even before the witness could show up at the Senate probe, Trillanes said he is already inviting Senators Gregorio Honasan and Francisco Pangilinan to talk his witness at an undisclosed safe house so they will be convinced that he really has basis in accusing Gonzales and Esperon.
“I do think before I talk,” Trillanes said, apparently responding to criticisms against him. “I was elected to tell the truth. I am not here to play games.”
He said he is also willing to present his witness to an independent investigating body.
Meanwhile, former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was not able to attend yesterday’s hearing at the sala of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 where he was supposed to testify for the accused Magdalo soldiers.
Atty. Vicente Verdadero told Presiding Judge Oscar Pimentel that the subpoena for Lim arrived late Wednesday afternoon, thus the lack of time to prepare for his appearance yesterday.
“Actually, I advised him not to come because we were not yet told what he will testify on. But he said he is willing to come to testify, to tell the truth about what happened. So, maybe, next time, he could come,” Verdadero said.
Defense lawyer Rene Saguisag, who moved for Lim’s appearance, said the military officer, who is himself being tried before a military tribunal for his alleged participation in the alleged February 2006 coup plot, will testify that indeed, there was an agreement on the night of July 27, 2003 that the mutineers will stand down with the assurance that only five will be prosecuted, while the rest will only be admonished or reprimanded.
Saguisag said Lim was then part of the negotiators, along with Ambassador Roy Cimatu.
Lim, who was supposed to be the first witness of the defense, is expected to take the witness stand on November 15.
Aside from Trillanes, 13 other accused attended yesterday’s hearing. The 17 other accused opted not to attend./DMS
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Esperon declassifies report related to Burgos abduction case
By Ronron
October 24, 2007
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has decided to declassify the report of the military regarding its investigation on the involvement in the Burgos abduction case of a license plate that was supposed to be inside an Army camp in Bulacan province.
In an interview Wednesday, Esperon said he is ready to submit a copy of the report to any court that will ask for it.
“I have declassified the report and so, I’m ready to present that to the competent court,” he said.
Joseph Jonas Burgos, an agriculture trainer for left-leaning farmer’s group in Central Luzon, was forcibly taken from a mall in Quezon City last April. The police and military had earlier said that the people behind it are members of the communist movement who are tasked to carry out possibly a purge mission.
But the family of Burgos belies the claim of the authorities, saying that the missing victim is not a member of the New People’s Army. The family has already brought the case to higher courts.
The family believes it is the military behind the abduction because of the TAB-194 license plate that was used in the abduction. The said plate was later traced by police investigators to originally belong to a vehicle impounded inside an Army camp in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
“I thought that for the sake of upholding and protection of human rights, I might as well declassify this since it has become one issue where it is interpreted as blocking the right of a parent or of an individual to be afforded human rights,” Esperon said.
Esperon expressed hope that with his decision, the public will view it as “one of our ways to show that indeed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a protector of human rights.”
The AFP leadership for several times has initially snubbed the order of the Court of Appeals for it to give the Burgos family a copy of its investigation report regarding the license plates.
It has cited the confidentiality policy of the government as far as classified documents are concerned.
“Our investigation into the case was simply to find out how the plate number got lost. We confined our investigation to that because there was an ongoing investigation on the criminal aspect of the case,” Esperon said.
“The plate number got lost because it was left there by the battalion that vacated the place when it went on retraining… We do not know how it got into the (Burgos abduction) scene, how it got involved in the commission of the abduction,” he added.
But while he can say this time that the military organization is not involved in the abduction of Burgos, Esperon said they can not rule out the involvement of a military personnel./DMS
October 24, 2007
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has decided to declassify the report of the military regarding its investigation on the involvement in the Burgos abduction case of a license plate that was supposed to be inside an Army camp in Bulacan province.
In an interview Wednesday, Esperon said he is ready to submit a copy of the report to any court that will ask for it.
“I have declassified the report and so, I’m ready to present that to the competent court,” he said.
Joseph Jonas Burgos, an agriculture trainer for left-leaning farmer’s group in Central Luzon, was forcibly taken from a mall in Quezon City last April. The police and military had earlier said that the people behind it are members of the communist movement who are tasked to carry out possibly a purge mission.
But the family of Burgos belies the claim of the authorities, saying that the missing victim is not a member of the New People’s Army. The family has already brought the case to higher courts.
The family believes it is the military behind the abduction because of the TAB-194 license plate that was used in the abduction. The said plate was later traced by police investigators to originally belong to a vehicle impounded inside an Army camp in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
“I thought that for the sake of upholding and protection of human rights, I might as well declassify this since it has become one issue where it is interpreted as blocking the right of a parent or of an individual to be afforded human rights,” Esperon said.
Esperon expressed hope that with his decision, the public will view it as “one of our ways to show that indeed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a protector of human rights.”
The AFP leadership for several times has initially snubbed the order of the Court of Appeals for it to give the Burgos family a copy of its investigation report regarding the license plates.
It has cited the confidentiality policy of the government as far as classified documents are concerned.
“Our investigation into the case was simply to find out how the plate number got lost. We confined our investigation to that because there was an ongoing investigation on the criminal aspect of the case,” Esperon said.
“The plate number got lost because it was left there by the battalion that vacated the place when it went on retraining… We do not know how it got into the (Burgos abduction) scene, how it got involved in the commission of the abduction,” he added.
But while he can say this time that the military organization is not involved in the abduction of Burgos, Esperon said they can not rule out the involvement of a military personnel./DMS
Police ready for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls
By Ronron
October 24, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that despite the deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City last Friday, it is already ready for the security on October 29 when the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be held.
“The PNP is all systems go. Your PNP is already ready,” Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, deputy chief for Operations of the PNP and head of the PNP task force for the October 29 local elections, told reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Varilla said they will be fielding at least two personnel for every polling center, along with some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); intensify their checkpoints; monitor the movements of partisan armed groups (PAGS); and, strictly implement the gun ban.
Citing current figures, Varilla foresees a peaceful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election this year, compared to the last similar polls in 2002.
The PNP has so far recorded 14 election-related violent incidents (ERVI) since the start of the election period last September 29. The incidents have so far claimed the lives of 10 people, including two barangay chairmen candidates, one barangay kagawad candidate, and three incumbent barangay officials; and the wounding of eight other people.
Varilla said this figure is way below the 159 ERVI’s in the 2002 polls that left 75 people killed, many of whom are candidates then.
“The situation now is very, very much peaceful,” he said.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez echoed Varilla’s statement, citing the efforts of the PNP, the coordination of the two agencies, and the vigilance of the public.
Also, he surmised that the people must still be tired of the May 14 elections, thus their rejection of violence.
But Varilla said they will closely monitor the situation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where most of the areas of concern come from.
“In areas where there is security threat, the Comelec has deputized the AFP to help the PNP,” he said.
Jimenez said the barangay elections is necessary in the country because village officials serve as front liner of the government, particularly in its services to the people. Thus, he encouraged the people to vote on Monday.
Voting will start from 7am until 3pm, and results are expected within 48 hours after the start of the counting, said Jimenez./DMS
October 24, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that despite the deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City last Friday, it is already ready for the security on October 29 when the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be held.
“The PNP is all systems go. Your PNP is already ready,” Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, deputy chief for Operations of the PNP and head of the PNP task force for the October 29 local elections, told reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Varilla said they will be fielding at least two personnel for every polling center, along with some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); intensify their checkpoints; monitor the movements of partisan armed groups (PAGS); and, strictly implement the gun ban.
Citing current figures, Varilla foresees a peaceful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election this year, compared to the last similar polls in 2002.
The PNP has so far recorded 14 election-related violent incidents (ERVI) since the start of the election period last September 29. The incidents have so far claimed the lives of 10 people, including two barangay chairmen candidates, one barangay kagawad candidate, and three incumbent barangay officials; and the wounding of eight other people.
Varilla said this figure is way below the 159 ERVI’s in the 2002 polls that left 75 people killed, many of whom are candidates then.
“The situation now is very, very much peaceful,” he said.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez echoed Varilla’s statement, citing the efforts of the PNP, the coordination of the two agencies, and the vigilance of the public.
Also, he surmised that the people must still be tired of the May 14 elections, thus their rejection of violence.
But Varilla said they will closely monitor the situation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where most of the areas of concern come from.
“In areas where there is security threat, the Comelec has deputized the AFP to help the PNP,” he said.
Jimenez said the barangay elections is necessary in the country because village officials serve as front liner of the government, particularly in its services to the people. Thus, he encouraged the people to vote on Monday.
Voting will start from 7am until 3pm, and results are expected within 48 hours after the start of the counting, said Jimenez./DMS
Police stands by gas explosion theory despite Ayala Land, Inc.’s denial
By Ronron
October 24, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is standing by its theory that the more likely cause of the incident last Friday at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City that killed 11 people and hurt over a hundred others was gas explosion and not bombing.
Director Geary Barias, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and spokesman of the team investigating the incident, issued the statement hours after the Ayala Land, Inc. refuted on Wednesday the initial findings of the police, saying the basement of Glorietta 2 was in order prior to the blast.
“My point is what are the indicators,” Barias said, referring to their findings that there was septic tank at the basement of Glorietta 2 where a diesel tank is also located.
Barias had earlier said that the methane gas from the waste at the septic tank and the diesel fumes could have mixed up and then ignited by something, causing the explosion last Friday afternoon. The physical appearance of the basement led investigators to believe that it was the seat of the explosion.
On Tuesday, Barias announced that they have already downgraded the bombing theory because of the absence of bomb components and crater at the blast site. But this does not mean that it is already completely being ruled out.
According to Barias, their investigation revealed that sometime during the second quarter of this year, fire protection pumps and pipes at the basement underwent rehabilitation.
And then, a week before the incident, there was a breaker that tripped, causing flooding at the basement.
Finally, on the day before the blast, some works were done at the basement, particularly, the bringing in of a portable submersible pump that was used as temporary replacement of one of the sewer pumps.
Barias revealed that when investigators went to the basement after the incident, it was filled knee-deep with human waste.
This accumulation of waste, he said, is likely source of methane gas that sought to find an escape route because of the enclosed area or insufficient ventilation.
“We are looking at the portable pump, or the bulb, or the circuit breaker that could have caused the spark, leading to the explosion… That’s what we are trying to determine now, as to what caused the spark,” he said.
Barias said that while Ayala Land, Inc. executives maintain that there was nothing out of ordinary at the basement at the time of the explosion, they failed to categorically state that “there are ongoing repairs in that facility because it was not working normally.”
Asked if the explanation given by the Ayala Land executives can be considered as tantamount already to admission of having responsibility over the basement, Barias said: “I would not like to comment because we are not yet at that stage on (the) liabilities… I’m not also a lawyer yet, so I cannot comment on that yet.”
Barias said they will now recall the personnel they have interviewed regarding the repair at the basement to ascertain who commissioned them.
“Those being contracted to work there are from the outside. We need to investigate again these people to know who hired them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Wednesday hit Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for “mixing speculation with politics” over the incident even as the “investigation is not yet over.”
Told that the police findings’ apparently cleared him of the allegation hurled against him and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales by Trillanes as being responsible for the blast, Esperon just said: “It is always alarming if there would be terrorist bombing in Metro Manila. But responding to that…, I would say it was too speculative, mixing speculation with politics anytime that the investigation is not yet over.”
He maintained that he could not be capable of staging a bombing incident as “we are supposed to be protecting the people.”
The military chief threw back the allegation instead to Trillanes, citing the Oakwood incident in July 2003 when the Magdalo Group, of which the Senator is a key leader, brought in C4 explosives.
“If indeed we were the ones who conducted the bombings, my question would be, who were the people in fact who planted bombs in that area in 2003? We have not done that. Some people have done it,” Esperon said, referring to the Magdalo soldiers.
Esperon urged the public to “wait for the investigation to wrap up,” “respect the expertise of the investigators,” and avoid speculating so the truth will come out.
“This is a very trying time. Accusations have been hurled all over but I must say that it is always best that you wait for some results before you speak out and accuse people. Let us bear in mind that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is here to protect the people and we intend to do our job,” he said.
According to Barias, they are just awaiting the completion of the analysis of the experts on the pieces of evidence recovered from the blast site before they can close the investigation and come up with a conclusion.
He said if he had his way, he wanted it done before this coming Friday, but he is skeptical about this, considering the difficulty in putting the report into writing.
“Our time frame is as soon as possible,” Barias said./DMS
October 24, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is standing by its theory that the more likely cause of the incident last Friday at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City that killed 11 people and hurt over a hundred others was gas explosion and not bombing.
Director Geary Barias, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and spokesman of the team investigating the incident, issued the statement hours after the Ayala Land, Inc. refuted on Wednesday the initial findings of the police, saying the basement of Glorietta 2 was in order prior to the blast.
“My point is what are the indicators,” Barias said, referring to their findings that there was septic tank at the basement of Glorietta 2 where a diesel tank is also located.
Barias had earlier said that the methane gas from the waste at the septic tank and the diesel fumes could have mixed up and then ignited by something, causing the explosion last Friday afternoon. The physical appearance of the basement led investigators to believe that it was the seat of the explosion.
On Tuesday, Barias announced that they have already downgraded the bombing theory because of the absence of bomb components and crater at the blast site. But this does not mean that it is already completely being ruled out.
According to Barias, their investigation revealed that sometime during the second quarter of this year, fire protection pumps and pipes at the basement underwent rehabilitation.
And then, a week before the incident, there was a breaker that tripped, causing flooding at the basement.
Finally, on the day before the blast, some works were done at the basement, particularly, the bringing in of a portable submersible pump that was used as temporary replacement of one of the sewer pumps.
Barias revealed that when investigators went to the basement after the incident, it was filled knee-deep with human waste.
This accumulation of waste, he said, is likely source of methane gas that sought to find an escape route because of the enclosed area or insufficient ventilation.
“We are looking at the portable pump, or the bulb, or the circuit breaker that could have caused the spark, leading to the explosion… That’s what we are trying to determine now, as to what caused the spark,” he said.
Barias said that while Ayala Land, Inc. executives maintain that there was nothing out of ordinary at the basement at the time of the explosion, they failed to categorically state that “there are ongoing repairs in that facility because it was not working normally.”
Asked if the explanation given by the Ayala Land executives can be considered as tantamount already to admission of having responsibility over the basement, Barias said: “I would not like to comment because we are not yet at that stage on (the) liabilities… I’m not also a lawyer yet, so I cannot comment on that yet.”
Barias said they will now recall the personnel they have interviewed regarding the repair at the basement to ascertain who commissioned them.
“Those being contracted to work there are from the outside. We need to investigate again these people to know who hired them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Wednesday hit Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for “mixing speculation with politics” over the incident even as the “investigation is not yet over.”
Told that the police findings’ apparently cleared him of the allegation hurled against him and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales by Trillanes as being responsible for the blast, Esperon just said: “It is always alarming if there would be terrorist bombing in Metro Manila. But responding to that…, I would say it was too speculative, mixing speculation with politics anytime that the investigation is not yet over.”
He maintained that he could not be capable of staging a bombing incident as “we are supposed to be protecting the people.”
The military chief threw back the allegation instead to Trillanes, citing the Oakwood incident in July 2003 when the Magdalo Group, of which the Senator is a key leader, brought in C4 explosives.
“If indeed we were the ones who conducted the bombings, my question would be, who were the people in fact who planted bombs in that area in 2003? We have not done that. Some people have done it,” Esperon said, referring to the Magdalo soldiers.
Esperon urged the public to “wait for the investigation to wrap up,” “respect the expertise of the investigators,” and avoid speculating so the truth will come out.
“This is a very trying time. Accusations have been hurled all over but I must say that it is always best that you wait for some results before you speak out and accuse people. Let us bear in mind that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is here to protect the people and we intend to do our job,” he said.
According to Barias, they are just awaiting the completion of the analysis of the experts on the pieces of evidence recovered from the blast site before they can close the investigation and come up with a conclusion.
He said if he had his way, he wanted it done before this coming Friday, but he is skeptical about this, considering the difficulty in putting the report into writing.
“Our time frame is as soon as possible,” Barias said./DMS
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Kidnapper with P300,000 bounty falls in Tarlac
By Ronron
October 23, 2007
A suspected kidnapper who has a P300,000 bounty for his capture was arrested last Sunday by joint police and military operatives in Tarlac province.
Ronaldo Rejuso, who is subject of a warrant of arrest for the crime of murder and frustrated murder, was nabbed at his residence in Barangay Cabugbugan, Sta. Ignacia town at around 10:30 am after a civilian informant reported to police.
“Rejuso is a member of the Waray-Waray kidnap for ransom group operating in Metro Manila and in the nearby provinces of Region 3 and Region 4-A,” said Sr. Supt. Edgar Iglesia of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) unit.
Iglesia said the arrest warrant against Rejuso stemmed from his alleged participation in the attempted abduction of the Choa brothers – Shermon and Shichuang, last July 12, 2005 in Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City.
The incident, unfortunately, resulted in the killing of Shermon and the wounding Shichuang, bungling the kidnapping attempt. Rejuso has eight other cohorts then, who are all under police custody already.
Rejuso, said Iglesia, was tagged as the tipster of the group.
“Rejuso carries a monetary reward of P300,000 for his capture under DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Memorandum Circular 2006-05-A dated January 27, 2007,” Iglesia said.
Iglesia said the warrant against Rejuso was issued by Judge Maria Nena Santos of Regional Trial Court Branch 171, Valenzuela City.
Iglesia said Rejuso is the 11th most wanted kidnapper arrested for this year./DMS
October 23, 2007
A suspected kidnapper who has a P300,000 bounty for his capture was arrested last Sunday by joint police and military operatives in Tarlac province.
Ronaldo Rejuso, who is subject of a warrant of arrest for the crime of murder and frustrated murder, was nabbed at his residence in Barangay Cabugbugan, Sta. Ignacia town at around 10:30 am after a civilian informant reported to police.
“Rejuso is a member of the Waray-Waray kidnap for ransom group operating in Metro Manila and in the nearby provinces of Region 3 and Region 4-A,” said Sr. Supt. Edgar Iglesia of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) unit.
Iglesia said the arrest warrant against Rejuso stemmed from his alleged participation in the attempted abduction of the Choa brothers – Shermon and Shichuang, last July 12, 2005 in Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City.
The incident, unfortunately, resulted in the killing of Shermon and the wounding Shichuang, bungling the kidnapping attempt. Rejuso has eight other cohorts then, who are all under police custody already.
Rejuso, said Iglesia, was tagged as the tipster of the group.
“Rejuso carries a monetary reward of P300,000 for his capture under DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Memorandum Circular 2006-05-A dated January 27, 2007,” Iglesia said.
Iglesia said the warrant against Rejuso was issued by Judge Maria Nena Santos of Regional Trial Court Branch 171, Valenzuela City.
Iglesia said Rejuso is the 11th most wanted kidnapper arrested for this year./DMS
Two more Bersamin killing suspects arrested
By Ronron
October 23, 2007
Two more suspects in the killing of former Abra Congressman Luis Bersamin, Jr. were recently arrested by police in Rizal province, although officials still refuse to consider the case as solved already.
The two – Sonny Taculao and Freddie Dupo – complete the four subjects of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Lydia Layosa of the Regional Trial Court 4th Judicial Region in Quezon City for the crime of murder and frustrated murder in relation to the Bersamin killing case.
Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, Deputy Chief for Operations of the Philippine National Police, said Taculao was first arrested at around 4am of October 21 at the boundary of Baras town and Antipolo City in Rizal.
Dupo followed suit later on October 22 at 9:30 am at Sitio Kilingan, Barangay Paenaan in Antipolo City during a follow up operation.
Task Force Bersamin commander Director Edgardo Doromal, incumbent chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Dupo, who was a former vice mayor of La Paz town in Abra, was allegedly responsible for the recruitment of other suspects, including Taculao, in carrying out the plan against Bersamin.
Another suspect, former Army Sergeant Rufino Panday, who was arrested days after the December 16 killing, had earlier made this claim about Dupo, based on a police statement at that time.
Panday also said then that Taculao drove the getaway motorcycle after the incident, while the gunman was Dominador Barbosa, also known as Salvador. Barbosa was earlier killed by policemen out to arrest him.
Asked if the Bersamin case is already solved, Varilla said: “Well, despite this development, we all know that we are still running after some suspects. We still have not accounted for all suspects, the John Does in the arrest warrant. So the Task Force Bersamin will continue working on this.”
According to Charie Bersamin, the eldest child of the slain solon, they can only consider the case closed if their suspected mastermind, former Abra Governor Vicente Valera, is also charged and arrested.
Doromal claimed that Taculao and Dupo have so far not implicated Valera in the case.
For tactical interrogation purposes, Taculao and Dupo will remain under the custody of the CIDG before they will be turned over to the court that issued the arrest warrant against them.
Bersamin and his police bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, were shot dead late afternoon of December 16, 2006 at the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City after attending the wedding of his niece.
His police escort, who fought it out against the suspect, sustained injuries./DMS
October 23, 2007
Two more suspects in the killing of former Abra Congressman Luis Bersamin, Jr. were recently arrested by police in Rizal province, although officials still refuse to consider the case as solved already.
The two – Sonny Taculao and Freddie Dupo – complete the four subjects of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Lydia Layosa of the Regional Trial Court 4th Judicial Region in Quezon City for the crime of murder and frustrated murder in relation to the Bersamin killing case.
Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, Deputy Chief for Operations of the Philippine National Police, said Taculao was first arrested at around 4am of October 21 at the boundary of Baras town and Antipolo City in Rizal.
Dupo followed suit later on October 22 at 9:30 am at Sitio Kilingan, Barangay Paenaan in Antipolo City during a follow up operation.
Task Force Bersamin commander Director Edgardo Doromal, incumbent chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Dupo, who was a former vice mayor of La Paz town in Abra, was allegedly responsible for the recruitment of other suspects, including Taculao, in carrying out the plan against Bersamin.
Another suspect, former Army Sergeant Rufino Panday, who was arrested days after the December 16 killing, had earlier made this claim about Dupo, based on a police statement at that time.
Panday also said then that Taculao drove the getaway motorcycle after the incident, while the gunman was Dominador Barbosa, also known as Salvador. Barbosa was earlier killed by policemen out to arrest him.
Asked if the Bersamin case is already solved, Varilla said: “Well, despite this development, we all know that we are still running after some suspects. We still have not accounted for all suspects, the John Does in the arrest warrant. So the Task Force Bersamin will continue working on this.”
According to Charie Bersamin, the eldest child of the slain solon, they can only consider the case closed if their suspected mastermind, former Abra Governor Vicente Valera, is also charged and arrested.
Doromal claimed that Taculao and Dupo have so far not implicated Valera in the case.
For tactical interrogation purposes, Taculao and Dupo will remain under the custody of the CIDG before they will be turned over to the court that issued the arrest warrant against them.
Bersamin and his police bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, were shot dead late afternoon of December 16, 2006 at the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City after attending the wedding of his niece.
His police escort, who fought it out against the suspect, sustained injuries./DMS
Post blast probe at Glorietta 2 ends, indicators point to gas explosion
By Ronron
October 23, 2007
The post blast investigation on the October 19 deadly incident at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City was already completed on Monday and the initial findings point to gas explosion rather than bombing, officials said Tuesday.
According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman of the Glorietta 2 blast Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force, no trace of components of an improvised explosive device (IED) and no crater was found at the site by bomb experts and scene of the crime operatives.
Also, the RDX substance that was found at the ground level of Glorietta 2 on Friday night were absent at the basement of the mall, which is believed to be the seat of explosion.
“What I can say is it is very difficult to support the theory of a bomb in the absence of two critical things that they need to find out, which are the parts of the bomb or the bomb itself, and the crater that should show signs of any explosion if a bomb was really used,” Barias said.
“So, accidental explosion is the direction now of the investigation,” he added.
Supporting this angle, Barias said, are the statement of a maintenance personnel at Glorietta 2 that there is not enough ventilation at the basement that will facilitate air circulation.
Secondly, the diesel tank itself located at the basement, according to petrochemical experts, did not follow the standard cylindrical structure of a gas container.
“What we saw there was a rectangular diesel tank that might have contributed to the explosion,” Barias said.
Barias said some other “quantitative debris” gathered from the blast site are already undergoing chemical tests “to establish the presence of any relative components that will trigger the explosion.”
He said post blast investigators were initially looking for traces of switch or trigger, power source like battery, initiators like blasting caps, casing and compartment like a box, and explosives (main charge) to prove that a bomb was indeed used.
“The task force is still waiting for the technical opinion of some experienced mechanical engineers of reputable private companies, as well as experts from the Department of Energy, to find out the possible cause of explosion,” Barias said.
Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, head of the Southern Police District and the investigation task force, said it is likely that the explosion came from the diesel tank based on its post-blast appearance.
The first possibility is the diesel fumes mixed up with methane gas that came from the sewage system within the same area. An investigator from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said methane gas explodes on its own if five parts of it mixes with 100 parts of other types of gas or air.
Had there been ventilation inside the basement, the gas would not have compacted or pressurized or heated up, avoiding an explosion, said Supt. Fennimore Jaudian, chief of the DILG Inter-Agency Task Force.
Second theory is a spark from possible sources of ignition inside the basement caused the blast. Ticman enumerated the following as possible sources of ignition: open switcher, motor, and batteries.
“Why we are pursuing the gas explosion theory? First is the upward rupture and damage on the diesel tank. Second is the concave concrete slab directly above the diesel tank. Third is the presence of septic tanks and waste-water treatment facility that produce methane. Fourth, the ventilation is not functioning and there is no exhaust system, giving rise to temperature and accumulation of diesel vapor or fumes. Fifth, the presence of open switches, motor pumps, batteries and other possible igniter. And sixth, the vent of explosion clearly show a strong upward push, which characterizes gas explosion,” Ticman explained.
Barias, Ticman and Jaudian all stressed that it is possible for gas explosion to happen without causing fire to any facility, citing an incident in Cebu early this year.
Asked for the liability therefore of the operator of the basement if indeed the blast came there accidentally, Barias said they could be charged for negligence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple frustrated homicide.
But as to who these people are, Barias said they have yet to ascertain since Ayala Corporation, which runs Glorietta 2, initially denied in several media interviews having jurisdiction over the basement.
“The explanation of some architects and engineers there is that it was not yet Gorietta at that time when the basement was constructed. That was supposed to be Makati Supermarket. When Ayala consolidated all of these buildings, and in fact the diesel tank was outside, they sort of just covered that when Ayala started the construction. That was I think in 1992,” Barias said.
“So the subject of the investigation now also is to establish who has responsibility over that place,” he added.
Nonetheless, he said criminal and civil liabilities are “necessary and logical consequences to the investigation.”
Asked when they could possibly close their investigation, Barias said: “Hopefully, we are optimistic that in the earliest possible time, in the next 24 hours probably, we can already end this investigation.”/DMS
October 23, 2007
The post blast investigation on the October 19 deadly incident at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City was already completed on Monday and the initial findings point to gas explosion rather than bombing, officials said Tuesday.
According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman of the Glorietta 2 blast Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force, no trace of components of an improvised explosive device (IED) and no crater was found at the site by bomb experts and scene of the crime operatives.
Also, the RDX substance that was found at the ground level of Glorietta 2 on Friday night were absent at the basement of the mall, which is believed to be the seat of explosion.
“What I can say is it is very difficult to support the theory of a bomb in the absence of two critical things that they need to find out, which are the parts of the bomb or the bomb itself, and the crater that should show signs of any explosion if a bomb was really used,” Barias said.
“So, accidental explosion is the direction now of the investigation,” he added.
Supporting this angle, Barias said, are the statement of a maintenance personnel at Glorietta 2 that there is not enough ventilation at the basement that will facilitate air circulation.
Secondly, the diesel tank itself located at the basement, according to petrochemical experts, did not follow the standard cylindrical structure of a gas container.
“What we saw there was a rectangular diesel tank that might have contributed to the explosion,” Barias said.
Barias said some other “quantitative debris” gathered from the blast site are already undergoing chemical tests “to establish the presence of any relative components that will trigger the explosion.”
He said post blast investigators were initially looking for traces of switch or trigger, power source like battery, initiators like blasting caps, casing and compartment like a box, and explosives (main charge) to prove that a bomb was indeed used.
“The task force is still waiting for the technical opinion of some experienced mechanical engineers of reputable private companies, as well as experts from the Department of Energy, to find out the possible cause of explosion,” Barias said.
Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, head of the Southern Police District and the investigation task force, said it is likely that the explosion came from the diesel tank based on its post-blast appearance.
The first possibility is the diesel fumes mixed up with methane gas that came from the sewage system within the same area. An investigator from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said methane gas explodes on its own if five parts of it mixes with 100 parts of other types of gas or air.
Had there been ventilation inside the basement, the gas would not have compacted or pressurized or heated up, avoiding an explosion, said Supt. Fennimore Jaudian, chief of the DILG Inter-Agency Task Force.
Second theory is a spark from possible sources of ignition inside the basement caused the blast. Ticman enumerated the following as possible sources of ignition: open switcher, motor, and batteries.
“Why we are pursuing the gas explosion theory? First is the upward rupture and damage on the diesel tank. Second is the concave concrete slab directly above the diesel tank. Third is the presence of septic tanks and waste-water treatment facility that produce methane. Fourth, the ventilation is not functioning and there is no exhaust system, giving rise to temperature and accumulation of diesel vapor or fumes. Fifth, the presence of open switches, motor pumps, batteries and other possible igniter. And sixth, the vent of explosion clearly show a strong upward push, which characterizes gas explosion,” Ticman explained.
Barias, Ticman and Jaudian all stressed that it is possible for gas explosion to happen without causing fire to any facility, citing an incident in Cebu early this year.
Asked for the liability therefore of the operator of the basement if indeed the blast came there accidentally, Barias said they could be charged for negligence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple frustrated homicide.
But as to who these people are, Barias said they have yet to ascertain since Ayala Corporation, which runs Glorietta 2, initially denied in several media interviews having jurisdiction over the basement.
“The explanation of some architects and engineers there is that it was not yet Gorietta at that time when the basement was constructed. That was supposed to be Makati Supermarket. When Ayala consolidated all of these buildings, and in fact the diesel tank was outside, they sort of just covered that when Ayala started the construction. That was I think in 1992,” Barias said.
“So the subject of the investigation now also is to establish who has responsibility over that place,” he added.
Nonetheless, he said criminal and civil liabilities are “necessary and logical consequences to the investigation.”
Asked when they could possibly close their investigation, Barias said: “Hopefully, we are optimistic that in the earliest possible time, in the next 24 hours probably, we can already end this investigation.”/DMS
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Trillanes refuses to give statement to police on Glorietta explosion
By Ronron
October 22, 2007
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV did not give a statement to police on Saturday who visited him at his detention cell to get his basis for accusing the Arroyo government as being behind the blast at Glorietta 2 in Makati City last Friday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said Trillanes’ action only shows “what kind of person he is” as he issues “political statements” based from tragic incidents.
“We conducted investigation on Senator Trillanes and requested him to assist us in his assertion against certain government officials. But he refused to cooperate, give statement or substantiate it,” Razon said.
It was the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) that attempted to take the statement of Trillanes last Saturday noon.
“Supt. Honorio Aguila, in his report, stated that during the interview, Sen. Trillanes refused to elaborate or give other details on his accusations, saying that what he released to the media is all that he can given at this moment,” the NCRPO said in a statement.
“He also refused to provide a formal written statement relative to his press statement. Despite all efforts put up by the investigating team to elicit more information from the neophyte Senator, no cooperation was garnered from that meeting,” it added.
On Friday evening or hours after the blast, Trillanes said in a statement that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. were responsible for the incident, citing the government’s alleged Operation Plan Greenbase from which the bombings in Davao City in 2003 came from.
The blast was allegedly intended to divert the attention of the public from the controversies hounding the Arroyo government.
Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol had branded Trillanes’ statement as “seditious.”
“If his statement has no basis, then it’s very unfair not only to those alluded to but also to the general public who trusted him and voted for him. This just shows what kind of person he is,” Razon said of Trillanes, branding his allegations as “irresponsible.”
Razon warned that they could actually take action against Trillanes for making such statement, but he would not elaborate.
The decision to take Trillanes’ official statement was arrived during last Saturday’s National Security Council and Anti-Terrorism Task Force Meeting in Camp Crame, presided over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Apostol had said then they do not intend to prosecute Trillanes in getting his statement./DMS
October 22, 2007
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV did not give a statement to police on Saturday who visited him at his detention cell to get his basis for accusing the Arroyo government as being behind the blast at Glorietta 2 in Makati City last Friday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said Trillanes’ action only shows “what kind of person he is” as he issues “political statements” based from tragic incidents.
“We conducted investigation on Senator Trillanes and requested him to assist us in his assertion against certain government officials. But he refused to cooperate, give statement or substantiate it,” Razon said.
It was the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) that attempted to take the statement of Trillanes last Saturday noon.
“Supt. Honorio Aguila, in his report, stated that during the interview, Sen. Trillanes refused to elaborate or give other details on his accusations, saying that what he released to the media is all that he can given at this moment,” the NCRPO said in a statement.
“He also refused to provide a formal written statement relative to his press statement. Despite all efforts put up by the investigating team to elicit more information from the neophyte Senator, no cooperation was garnered from that meeting,” it added.
On Friday evening or hours after the blast, Trillanes said in a statement that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. were responsible for the incident, citing the government’s alleged Operation Plan Greenbase from which the bombings in Davao City in 2003 came from.
The blast was allegedly intended to divert the attention of the public from the controversies hounding the Arroyo government.
Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol had branded Trillanes’ statement as “seditious.”
“If his statement has no basis, then it’s very unfair not only to those alluded to but also to the general public who trusted him and voted for him. This just shows what kind of person he is,” Razon said of Trillanes, branding his allegations as “irresponsible.”
Razon warned that they could actually take action against Trillanes for making such statement, but he would not elaborate.
The decision to take Trillanes’ official statement was arrived during last Saturday’s National Security Council and Anti-Terrorism Task Force Meeting in Camp Crame, presided over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Apostol had said then they do not intend to prosecute Trillanes in getting his statement./DMS
Investigators now entertain possible “industrial accident” in Glorietta 2 blast
By Ronron
October 22, 2007
Authorities are now entertaining the possibility of an industrial accident in the explosion last Friday at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City that claimed 11 lives and wounded over a hundred others.
No less than Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. issued the statement on Monday, which contradicts his pronouncement last Saturday that the blast was caused by a bomb, thus it could not be accidental in nature.
“We are not yet at the stage of concluding what really happened,” Razon told a news conference at Camp Crame.
Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District (SPD) who heads the Investigation Task Force for the incident, said the angles they are looking into are terror attack, industrial accident, and business rivalry.
The angle of “ultra-rightists” participation is also being considered, said Razon.
The raising of the “industrial accident” angle stemmed from the findings of investigators on site that the seat of explosion was at the basement, which houses a sewage system and diesel tanker. The basement was only penetrated by investigators on Sunday after some 19 trucks of water were siphoned out of it.
Ticman noted that the cover of the diesel tanker was partly ruptured and a hole was created after a pipe inside ripped through it up to the ceiling. The concrete ceiling of the basement was also blown up in concave form although it was not totally destroyed.
Razon said they have sought the help of metallurgical forensics and petrochemical experts to help ascertain as to what condition could trigger an opening of the diesel tank, or an explosion from it.
An investigator from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Supt. Fennimore Jaudian, who heads the Inter-Agency Task Force, said a methane gas explosion is possible from the basement because of the housing of both the sewage system and the diesel tank there.
“This (methane gas from the sewage system) should leak somewhere else because if it is confined, this is dangerous gas, and could really cause explosion,” Jaudian told reporters after the news conference.
While they may have no physical evidence to support the theory, Jaudian said the physical effects of the blast indicate the possibility of a methane gas explosion.
“Methane gas is lighter than air so this should be tested by air sampling. But the problem is the area was opened so by all probability, this has already escaped after the explosion,” Jaudian said.
Razon said the findings of the PNP Crime Laboratory regarding the presence of RDX, the main component in making C4 explosives, remains acceptable although as to how it is linked with a possible methane gas explosion is yet to be determined.
“Our crime lab will study if diesel fumes or vapor could cause RDX formation,” Ticman said.
As of yesterday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman for the Investigation Task Force, said no bomb component have still been recovered from the blast site.
“As of this time, we have not found any component such as timing device, power source, initiator, switches and container. The initial discovery of RDX is still undergoing further laboratory examination from samples taken from the blast site in order to come up with conclusive findings,” Barias said.
Barias disclosed that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Australian Federal Police are also extending technical assistance already.
Meanwhile, Barias said the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) will remain as a suspect along with other groups even as it has already been regarded as “inactive” following the neutralization of its 12 core members over the last few years.
This, even as two other core members, identified as Sheik Omar Lavilla and Khalil Pareja alias Dino Amor, remain at large. Lavilla, said Barias, is believed to be in hiding in the Middle East, while Pareja is in Central Mindanao.
Lavilla had reportedly not been back in the country since early this year, Sr. Supt. Ager Ontog of the PNP’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, Task Force Sanlahi, said, quoting the Bureau of Immigration.
“We have not monitored any significant activity of the group since 2005,” Ontog said, referring to the Valentine’s Day bombing.
On Saturday, ABS-CBN News reported that an RSM leader contacted them and owned up the Glorietta 2 incident for the government’s failure to release their founding leader, Ahmad Santos.
“We are not discounting any group until all the facts are in. So we are keeping our options open. We are investigating everybody,” Ontog said./DMS
October 22, 2007
Authorities are now entertaining the possibility of an industrial accident in the explosion last Friday at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City that claimed 11 lives and wounded over a hundred others.
No less than Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. issued the statement on Monday, which contradicts his pronouncement last Saturday that the blast was caused by a bomb, thus it could not be accidental in nature.
“We are not yet at the stage of concluding what really happened,” Razon told a news conference at Camp Crame.
Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District (SPD) who heads the Investigation Task Force for the incident, said the angles they are looking into are terror attack, industrial accident, and business rivalry.
The angle of “ultra-rightists” participation is also being considered, said Razon.
The raising of the “industrial accident” angle stemmed from the findings of investigators on site that the seat of explosion was at the basement, which houses a sewage system and diesel tanker. The basement was only penetrated by investigators on Sunday after some 19 trucks of water were siphoned out of it.
Ticman noted that the cover of the diesel tanker was partly ruptured and a hole was created after a pipe inside ripped through it up to the ceiling. The concrete ceiling of the basement was also blown up in concave form although it was not totally destroyed.
Razon said they have sought the help of metallurgical forensics and petrochemical experts to help ascertain as to what condition could trigger an opening of the diesel tank, or an explosion from it.
An investigator from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Supt. Fennimore Jaudian, who heads the Inter-Agency Task Force, said a methane gas explosion is possible from the basement because of the housing of both the sewage system and the diesel tank there.
“This (methane gas from the sewage system) should leak somewhere else because if it is confined, this is dangerous gas, and could really cause explosion,” Jaudian told reporters after the news conference.
While they may have no physical evidence to support the theory, Jaudian said the physical effects of the blast indicate the possibility of a methane gas explosion.
“Methane gas is lighter than air so this should be tested by air sampling. But the problem is the area was opened so by all probability, this has already escaped after the explosion,” Jaudian said.
Razon said the findings of the PNP Crime Laboratory regarding the presence of RDX, the main component in making C4 explosives, remains acceptable although as to how it is linked with a possible methane gas explosion is yet to be determined.
“Our crime lab will study if diesel fumes or vapor could cause RDX formation,” Ticman said.
As of yesterday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman for the Investigation Task Force, said no bomb component have still been recovered from the blast site.
“As of this time, we have not found any component such as timing device, power source, initiator, switches and container. The initial discovery of RDX is still undergoing further laboratory examination from samples taken from the blast site in order to come up with conclusive findings,” Barias said.
Barias disclosed that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Australian Federal Police are also extending technical assistance already.
Meanwhile, Barias said the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) will remain as a suspect along with other groups even as it has already been regarded as “inactive” following the neutralization of its 12 core members over the last few years.
This, even as two other core members, identified as Sheik Omar Lavilla and Khalil Pareja alias Dino Amor, remain at large. Lavilla, said Barias, is believed to be in hiding in the Middle East, while Pareja is in Central Mindanao.
Lavilla had reportedly not been back in the country since early this year, Sr. Supt. Ager Ontog of the PNP’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, Task Force Sanlahi, said, quoting the Bureau of Immigration.
“We have not monitored any significant activity of the group since 2005,” Ontog said, referring to the Valentine’s Day bombing.
On Saturday, ABS-CBN News reported that an RSM leader contacted them and owned up the Glorietta 2 incident for the government’s failure to release their founding leader, Ahmad Santos.
“We are not discounting any group until all the facts are in. So we are keeping our options open. We are investigating everybody,” Ontog said./DMS
Sunday, October 21, 2007
MILF willing to help authorities in solving Glorietta blast
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Arroyo seeks help of Church in arrest of Makati blast suspects
By Ronron
October 20, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking the help of the religious sector in solving the bombing last Friday at Glorietta 2 in Makati City that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In the National Security Council (NSC) and Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday, Arroyo directed Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo to coordinate with church leaders for the identification of the suspect in the incident.
“As additional instructions, can you coordinate with the church leaders so that we can get their support in extorting the people to help identify the perpetrators or at least cooperate with the authorities,” Arroyo told Saludo.
Also, she directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to closely supervise and reinforce the civilian security guards in both the public and private establishments” as preventive measure to another bombing.
To this, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said: “I have just given our Chief PNP a guidance to coordinate with the Peace and Order Councils throughout the country to do three things.”
First is for the coordination of “all security agencies with the PNP so there will be seamless security.” Second is the “coordination between the security cameras of the malls and buildings” in Metro Manila with the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) security camera system. And finally, “we are going to request that the PNP roving patrols throughout the country will be coordinated with the Peace and Order Council, with the village watchmen, and civilian security volunteers.”
In her opening speech at the meeting addressed to the public, Arroyo appealed for “unity in staying vigilant against threats and other hindrance to” national development.
“My fellow countrymen, we are faced now with new hindrances into the strengthening of our economy – terrorism, oil price hike in the international market, and the continuing political instability. To fight them, we need to embolden our spirit, join hands together, strive and sacrifice, and not be influenced by those pushing for violence, fear and divisiveness,” Arroyo said in Filipino.
“It is in unity and striving hard that we will win as a Filipino nation,” she added.
The chief executive noted that members of the US-ASEAN Business Council with whom she had dined with on Friday night have not “changed any of their plans” in holding a business mission in the country.
But even with this positive feedback, she asked Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to convey to the international community the latest developments in the investigation of the bombing.
“We hope that you will inform your constituencies about the developments in the investigation so that appropriate advisories can be made available. So this means that you will inform the diplomatic corps in the country as well as the Philippine embassies abroad,” Arroyo said.
Authorities have already called the bombing as a terrorist act but they have yet to identify the group or individuals behind it./DMS
October 20, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking the help of the religious sector in solving the bombing last Friday at Glorietta 2 in Makati City that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In the National Security Council (NSC) and Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday, Arroyo directed Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo to coordinate with church leaders for the identification of the suspect in the incident.
“As additional instructions, can you coordinate with the church leaders so that we can get their support in extorting the people to help identify the perpetrators or at least cooperate with the authorities,” Arroyo told Saludo.
Also, she directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to closely supervise and reinforce the civilian security guards in both the public and private establishments” as preventive measure to another bombing.
To this, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said: “I have just given our Chief PNP a guidance to coordinate with the Peace and Order Councils throughout the country to do three things.”
First is for the coordination of “all security agencies with the PNP so there will be seamless security.” Second is the “coordination between the security cameras of the malls and buildings” in Metro Manila with the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) security camera system. And finally, “we are going to request that the PNP roving patrols throughout the country will be coordinated with the Peace and Order Council, with the village watchmen, and civilian security volunteers.”
In her opening speech at the meeting addressed to the public, Arroyo appealed for “unity in staying vigilant against threats and other hindrance to” national development.
“My fellow countrymen, we are faced now with new hindrances into the strengthening of our economy – terrorism, oil price hike in the international market, and the continuing political instability. To fight them, we need to embolden our spirit, join hands together, strive and sacrifice, and not be influenced by those pushing for violence, fear and divisiveness,” Arroyo said in Filipino.
“It is in unity and striving hard that we will win as a Filipino nation,” she added.
The chief executive noted that members of the US-ASEAN Business Council with whom she had dined with on Friday night have not “changed any of their plans” in holding a business mission in the country.
But even with this positive feedback, she asked Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to convey to the international community the latest developments in the investigation of the bombing.
“We hope that you will inform your constituencies about the developments in the investigation so that appropriate advisories can be made available. So this means that you will inform the diplomatic corps in the country as well as the Philippine embassies abroad,” Arroyo said.
Authorities have already called the bombing as a terrorist act but they have yet to identify the group or individuals behind it./DMS
Arroyo seeks help of Church in arrest of Makati blast suspects
By Ronron
October 20, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking the help of the religious sector in solving the bombing last Friday at Glorietta 2 in Makati City that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In the National Security Council (NSC) and Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday, Arroyo directed Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo to coordinate with church leaders for the identification of the suspect in the incident.
“As additional instructions, can you coordinate with the church leaders so that we can get their support in extorting the people to help identify the perpetrators or at least cooperate with the authorities,” Arroyo told Saludo.
Also, she directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to closely supervise and reinforce the civilian security guards in both the public and private establishments” as preventive measure to another bombing.
To this, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said: “I have just given our Chief PNP a guidance to coordinate with the Peace and Order Councils throughout the country to do three things.”
First is for the coordination of “all security agencies with the PNP so there will be seamless security.” Second is the “coordination between the security cameras of the malls and buildings” in Metro Manila with the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) security camera system. And finally, “we are going to request that the PNP roving patrols throughout the country will be coordinated with the Peace and Order Council, with the village watchmen, and civilian security volunteers.”
In her opening speech at the meeting addressed to the public, Arroyo appealed for “unity in staying vigilant against threats and other hindrance to” national development.
“My fellow countrymen, we are faced now with new hindrances into the strengthening of our economy – terrorism, oil price hike in the international market, and the continuing political instability. To fight them, we need to embolden our spirit, join hands together, strive and sacrifice, and not be influenced by those pushing for violence, fear and divisiveness,” Arroyo said in Filipino.
“It is in unity and striving hard that we will win as a Filipino nation,” she added.
The chief executive noted that members of the US-ASEAN Business Council with whom she had dined with on Friday night have not “changed any of their plans” in holding a business mission in the country.
But even with this positive feedback, she asked Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to convey to the international community the latest developments in the investigation of the bombing.
“We hope that you will inform your constituencies about the developments in the investigation so that appropriate advisories can be made available. So this means that you will inform the diplomatic corps in the country as well as the Philippine embassies abroad,” Arroyo said.
Authorities have already called the bombing as a terrorist act but they have yet to identify the group or individuals behind it./DMS
October 20, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking the help of the religious sector in solving the bombing last Friday at Glorietta 2 in Makati City that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In the National Security Council (NSC) and Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday, Arroyo directed Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo to coordinate with church leaders for the identification of the suspect in the incident.
“As additional instructions, can you coordinate with the church leaders so that we can get their support in extorting the people to help identify the perpetrators or at least cooperate with the authorities,” Arroyo told Saludo.
Also, she directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to closely supervise and reinforce the civilian security guards in both the public and private establishments” as preventive measure to another bombing.
To this, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said: “I have just given our Chief PNP a guidance to coordinate with the Peace and Order Councils throughout the country to do three things.”
First is for the coordination of “all security agencies with the PNP so there will be seamless security.” Second is the “coordination between the security cameras of the malls and buildings” in Metro Manila with the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) security camera system. And finally, “we are going to request that the PNP roving patrols throughout the country will be coordinated with the Peace and Order Council, with the village watchmen, and civilian security volunteers.”
In her opening speech at the meeting addressed to the public, Arroyo appealed for “unity in staying vigilant against threats and other hindrance to” national development.
“My fellow countrymen, we are faced now with new hindrances into the strengthening of our economy – terrorism, oil price hike in the international market, and the continuing political instability. To fight them, we need to embolden our spirit, join hands together, strive and sacrifice, and not be influenced by those pushing for violence, fear and divisiveness,” Arroyo said in Filipino.
“It is in unity and striving hard that we will win as a Filipino nation,” she added.
The chief executive noted that members of the US-ASEAN Business Council with whom she had dined with on Friday night have not “changed any of their plans” in holding a business mission in the country.
But even with this positive feedback, she asked Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to convey to the international community the latest developments in the investigation of the bombing.
“We hope that you will inform your constituencies about the developments in the investigation so that appropriate advisories can be made available. So this means that you will inform the diplomatic corps in the country as well as the Philippine embassies abroad,” Arroyo said.
Authorities have already called the bombing as a terrorist act but they have yet to identify the group or individuals behind it./DMS
Trillanes blames government for Glorietta 2 bombing
By Ronron
October 20, 2007
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV blamed the Arroyo government for the deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City last Friday that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In a press statement released late Friday, Trillanes said he “believes” the incident “is the handiwork of Malacanang Particulary, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon,” Jr.
“This blast is most likely another tactic of the administration to divert public attention away from the controversies hounding GMA,” Trillanes said, referring to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently facing allegations of bribery of local executives, irregular deal with ZTE Corporation, and the unresolved 2004 electoral fraud.
“It very looks like a repeat of Oplan Greenbase perpetrated by the administration in 2003 in Mindanao, where a series of bombings rocked the island, killing innocent people and destroying property. Those bombings remain unexplained to this day,” the former Navy officer went ont.
“Like Oplan Greenbase, this blast is a pretext for assorted measures GMA may again concoct, like exercise of emergency powers, possibly even Martial Law, to justify repressive actions against the people to clamp down on peaceful protests and subdue the rising public clamor for her to resign,” said Trillanes.
But the government took offense of Trillanes’ allegations.
“It’s about time we stop allowing people to make irresponsible statements so the statements of Senator Trillanes will be investigated formally,” Gonzales said Saturday.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will take the statements of Trillanes from his detention cell at the Philippine Marine Brig in Taguig City.
“In politics, there is fair game, and there is unfair game. The tragedy that befalls people like this is not fair game. So I would implore our political opposition to please exclude this tragedy from their laundry list of issues that they’re going to fire at the administration. This is demeaning of our political system. It is demeaning of the political environment. And I think it demeans themselves. So, if they can remain on a more Statesman-like level so that this unfortunate tragedy will not be exploited for their personal gains, it will do them well,” Puno said.
Esperon said he is supporting the government’s move to take Trillanes’ statements, calling the incident as a “very serious matter” to be “played around” by the Senator.
“Formal statements should be taken from people who make allegations,” Esperon said.
But while Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol called Trillanes’ action as “seditious,” he said they do not intend to prosecute the lawmaker.
“There is no intention to prosecute him. There is intention to get the necessary evidence so that we can properly investigate… We’ll just leave him that way. We will not file any criminal case. This is just for investigation,” Apostol said.
Gonzales pointed out that the Oplan Greenbase, which is being mentioned by Trillanes, has long been denied by its authors.
“Those who spread that rumor already apologized in public… They’re saying it’s a fake document. And I don’t understand why a Senator would keep on using a fake document as basis for his actions,” Gonzales said./DMS
October 20, 2007
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV blamed the Arroyo government for the deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City last Friday that killed nine people and wounded about a hundred others.
In a press statement released late Friday, Trillanes said he “believes” the incident “is the handiwork of Malacanang Particulary, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon,” Jr.
“This blast is most likely another tactic of the administration to divert public attention away from the controversies hounding GMA,” Trillanes said, referring to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently facing allegations of bribery of local executives, irregular deal with ZTE Corporation, and the unresolved 2004 electoral fraud.
“It very looks like a repeat of Oplan Greenbase perpetrated by the administration in 2003 in Mindanao, where a series of bombings rocked the island, killing innocent people and destroying property. Those bombings remain unexplained to this day,” the former Navy officer went ont.
“Like Oplan Greenbase, this blast is a pretext for assorted measures GMA may again concoct, like exercise of emergency powers, possibly even Martial Law, to justify repressive actions against the people to clamp down on peaceful protests and subdue the rising public clamor for her to resign,” said Trillanes.
But the government took offense of Trillanes’ allegations.
“It’s about time we stop allowing people to make irresponsible statements so the statements of Senator Trillanes will be investigated formally,” Gonzales said Saturday.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will take the statements of Trillanes from his detention cell at the Philippine Marine Brig in Taguig City.
“In politics, there is fair game, and there is unfair game. The tragedy that befalls people like this is not fair game. So I would implore our political opposition to please exclude this tragedy from their laundry list of issues that they’re going to fire at the administration. This is demeaning of our political system. It is demeaning of the political environment. And I think it demeans themselves. So, if they can remain on a more Statesman-like level so that this unfortunate tragedy will not be exploited for their personal gains, it will do them well,” Puno said.
Esperon said he is supporting the government’s move to take Trillanes’ statements, calling the incident as a “very serious matter” to be “played around” by the Senator.
“Formal statements should be taken from people who make allegations,” Esperon said.
But while Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol called Trillanes’ action as “seditious,” he said they do not intend to prosecute the lawmaker.
“There is no intention to prosecute him. There is intention to get the necessary evidence so that we can properly investigate… We’ll just leave him that way. We will not file any criminal case. This is just for investigation,” Apostol said.
Gonzales pointed out that the Oplan Greenbase, which is being mentioned by Trillanes, has long been denied by its authors.
“Those who spread that rumor already apologized in public… They’re saying it’s a fake document. And I don’t understand why a Senator would keep on using a fake document as basis for his actions,” Gonzales said./DMS
Glorietta 2 bombing death toll rises to nine
By Ronron
October 20, 2007
The death toll in Friday’s bombing at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City rose to nine on Saturday after one more body was retrieved from the rubbles of the blast site.
The ninth fatality was a man whose remains were unearthed by rescue team led by the Philippine National Red Cross at around 12:30 am yesterday, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, that reached around 100, have mostly been discharged already from the two hospitals that provided them medical treatment.
At the Makati Medical Center, only 17 remain confined, while only six are at the Ospital ng Makati. All suffered from blast injuries.
The government and the Ayala Corporation, which owns Glorietta 2, have sponsored the funeral expenses for the dead, and hospital expenses for the wounded./DMS
October 20, 2007
The death toll in Friday’s bombing at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City rose to nine on Saturday after one more body was retrieved from the rubbles of the blast site.
The ninth fatality was a man whose remains were unearthed by rescue team led by the Philippine National Red Cross at around 12:30 am yesterday, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, that reached around 100, have mostly been discharged already from the two hospitals that provided them medical treatment.
At the Makati Medical Center, only 17 remain confined, while only six are at the Ospital ng Makati. All suffered from blast injuries.
The government and the Ayala Corporation, which owns Glorietta 2, have sponsored the funeral expenses for the dead, and hospital expenses for the wounded./DMS
C4 component detected from Makati blast site
By Ronron
October 20, 2007
Chemical experts from the Philippine National Police (PNP) have detected RDX or Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine from the blast site in Makati City, said to be the main component of C4 explosives.
But authorities would not immediately conclude that the bomb used during Friday’s deadly explosion at the Glorietta 2 Mall was a C4 or TNT (trinitrotoluene) or dynamite, which also contains RDX.
“Early this morning, we have completed the initial screening and color testing (on the swabs) and the result was RDX was possibly used,” PNP Crime Laboratory Director Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac said during Saturday morning’s National Security Council and Anti-Terrorism Task Force meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City, presided over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Chief Insp. Grace Eustaquio, head of the Crime Laboratory’s Chemistry Division who was also at the meeting, described RDX as the main component of C4.
“It’s a high explosive and as such, the extent of the damage it can cause is really tremendous,” she said, bolstering the dismissal of the PNP of the LPG tank explosion angle that was floated as a possibility immediately after the blast.
Philippine Bomb Data Center (PBDC) chief Sr. Supt. Alberto Ferro said at the meeting that based on their 2005 and 2006 data, “we could presume that those (RDX and C4) are military ordnance components.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. admitted that the RDX and C4 are “controlled items” but was quick to appeal that people should not immediately conclude the bomb used last Friday came from the military.
“We could not pinpoint at anybody yet. It’s only the ingredients we have. I don’t think its proper this time to pinpoint to any person,” Esperon said.
Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, a former PNP chief, shared during the meeting that the bombs used in the Superferry 14 and Davao incidents a few years back may be “high explosives” but the perpetrators were not from the military.
Mendoza said miners also use C4 in their operations.
“It’s available not only to the military but it can be availed of also commercially. Just because it is of military grade does not mean that only the military has access to it,” National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said for his part.
Ferro’s deputy, Chief Insp. Reynold Rosero, had earlier said that they will also seek to gather other pieces of evidence from the blast site, such as switching materials and wirings, if any.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. and Gonzales said determining the type of bomb used could help authorities in determining those responsible for the explosion.
At the same time, they are reviewing the video footage from Glorietta 2, particularly those taken near the blast site, to check on the person who could have brought in the explosive.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias had said that the seat of the explosion is the stockroom of Luk Yuen noodle house, shared also by three other restaurants, located at the ground floor of Glorietta 2, along West Drive Street.
Razon said the police is offering P2 million in reward to any person who can help identify the perpetrators. Makati City Councilor Jejomar Binay, Jr. said the Makati City government is also willing to offer another P1 million.
But he said they are now conducting counter-checking on the existing list of terrorists in the country for their possible entry and activity in Metro Manila.
“We have heightened our intelligence sharing and monitoring together with our foreign counterparts, and increased police visibility… And the (PNP’s Anti-Terrorism Unit) Task Force Sanlahi is directed to be on the lookout for possible arrest of suspects,” Razon said.
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), in an interview on radio DZMM of one of its self-proclaimed commander in Basilan, denied involvement in the latest bombing, saying they are too hot to be able to escape from the military operations there.
“It is not true that we have placed bombs in the different parts of the country, especially the bomb there where the suspect allegedly is the ASG. We are very hot here in Basilan so we are just hiding in the mountains. We have not mobilized some members to go there,” a certain Commander Not told DZMM in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
He also said they have no members currently in Metro Manila.
“We are preoccupied in defending our territory here… We are just in the mountains, and are very far. And there are too many Marines here so we can not just roam around, much more go to Manila,” Not said.
Gonzales said that while the incident is a “terrorist act,” he could not categorically say that it is a “terrorist attack” because no one has claimed or been blamed for it yet. As such, they are not yet sure now if the anti-terrorism law can be applied.
“We cannot say it’s a terrorist attack. One of the requirements is that there has to be clear demand from government of the perpetrator. And we haven’t received anything like that yet,” he said.
Razon said the police in Metro Manila will maintain to be on full alert status, as the National Capital Region Command of the AFP, while the rest in the country will be on heightened level to thwart any possible repeat of said incident.
Around 6,000 police and military forces are now spread all over Metro Manila to secure the public, said Razon. On top of that, the military has just accepted the 48th Infantry Battalion from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija to augment the existing forces at present.
“We are maintaining the highest alert in the NCR because I think we have to assume that the threat of another bombing is possible. I hope we are not unnecessarily alarming our public but the alert level is such that it’s still very high,” Gonzales said, referring to the EXTREME-HIGH terrorism threat level./DMS
October 20, 2007
Chemical experts from the Philippine National Police (PNP) have detected RDX or Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine from the blast site in Makati City, said to be the main component of C4 explosives.
But authorities would not immediately conclude that the bomb used during Friday’s deadly explosion at the Glorietta 2 Mall was a C4 or TNT (trinitrotoluene) or dynamite, which also contains RDX.
“Early this morning, we have completed the initial screening and color testing (on the swabs) and the result was RDX was possibly used,” PNP Crime Laboratory Director Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac said during Saturday morning’s National Security Council and Anti-Terrorism Task Force meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City, presided over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Chief Insp. Grace Eustaquio, head of the Crime Laboratory’s Chemistry Division who was also at the meeting, described RDX as the main component of C4.
“It’s a high explosive and as such, the extent of the damage it can cause is really tremendous,” she said, bolstering the dismissal of the PNP of the LPG tank explosion angle that was floated as a possibility immediately after the blast.
Philippine Bomb Data Center (PBDC) chief Sr. Supt. Alberto Ferro said at the meeting that based on their 2005 and 2006 data, “we could presume that those (RDX and C4) are military ordnance components.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. admitted that the RDX and C4 are “controlled items” but was quick to appeal that people should not immediately conclude the bomb used last Friday came from the military.
“We could not pinpoint at anybody yet. It’s only the ingredients we have. I don’t think its proper this time to pinpoint to any person,” Esperon said.
Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, a former PNP chief, shared during the meeting that the bombs used in the Superferry 14 and Davao incidents a few years back may be “high explosives” but the perpetrators were not from the military.
Mendoza said miners also use C4 in their operations.
“It’s available not only to the military but it can be availed of also commercially. Just because it is of military grade does not mean that only the military has access to it,” National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said for his part.
Ferro’s deputy, Chief Insp. Reynold Rosero, had earlier said that they will also seek to gather other pieces of evidence from the blast site, such as switching materials and wirings, if any.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. and Gonzales said determining the type of bomb used could help authorities in determining those responsible for the explosion.
At the same time, they are reviewing the video footage from Glorietta 2, particularly those taken near the blast site, to check on the person who could have brought in the explosive.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias had said that the seat of the explosion is the stockroom of Luk Yuen noodle house, shared also by three other restaurants, located at the ground floor of Glorietta 2, along West Drive Street.
Razon said the police is offering P2 million in reward to any person who can help identify the perpetrators. Makati City Councilor Jejomar Binay, Jr. said the Makati City government is also willing to offer another P1 million.
But he said they are now conducting counter-checking on the existing list of terrorists in the country for their possible entry and activity in Metro Manila.
“We have heightened our intelligence sharing and monitoring together with our foreign counterparts, and increased police visibility… And the (PNP’s Anti-Terrorism Unit) Task Force Sanlahi is directed to be on the lookout for possible arrest of suspects,” Razon said.
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), in an interview on radio DZMM of one of its self-proclaimed commander in Basilan, denied involvement in the latest bombing, saying they are too hot to be able to escape from the military operations there.
“It is not true that we have placed bombs in the different parts of the country, especially the bomb there where the suspect allegedly is the ASG. We are very hot here in Basilan so we are just hiding in the mountains. We have not mobilized some members to go there,” a certain Commander Not told DZMM in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
He also said they have no members currently in Metro Manila.
“We are preoccupied in defending our territory here… We are just in the mountains, and are very far. And there are too many Marines here so we can not just roam around, much more go to Manila,” Not said.
Gonzales said that while the incident is a “terrorist act,” he could not categorically say that it is a “terrorist attack” because no one has claimed or been blamed for it yet. As such, they are not yet sure now if the anti-terrorism law can be applied.
“We cannot say it’s a terrorist attack. One of the requirements is that there has to be clear demand from government of the perpetrator. And we haven’t received anything like that yet,” he said.
Razon said the police in Metro Manila will maintain to be on full alert status, as the National Capital Region Command of the AFP, while the rest in the country will be on heightened level to thwart any possible repeat of said incident.
Around 6,000 police and military forces are now spread all over Metro Manila to secure the public, said Razon. On top of that, the military has just accepted the 48th Infantry Battalion from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija to augment the existing forces at present.
“We are maintaining the highest alert in the NCR because I think we have to assume that the threat of another bombing is possible. I hope we are not unnecessarily alarming our public but the alert level is such that it’s still very high,” Gonzales said, referring to the EXTREME-HIGH terrorism threat level./DMS
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