By Ronron
January 15, 2008
An Australian academician who has focused most of his jobs to security-related issues in the Philippines and other countries in the region openly expressed his doubts Tuesday on the gas explosion findings of Philippine authorities on the Glorietta 2 blast incident last October 19 in Makati City.
Dr. Kit Collier, a visiting fellow from the Australian National University, said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) yesterday that Philippine investigators have yet to put forward more convincing explanation to dispel suspicions that what happened was not triggered by a bomb or an improvised explosive device (IED).
“What is disappointing about the PNP (Philippine National Police) report, what disturbs me about this case is the number of mutually contradictory accounts,” Collier said.
He said that initially, authorities said there were traces of RDX found at the blast site, which led them to say that it was definitely an act of terrorism. However, they recanted by saying that it was an industrial accident particularly caused by methane gas and inflammable diesel fuel.
“We’re told later that RDX can be found in lipsticks or that it was planted by the Army,” Collier said, inciting laughter among the audience.
Because of these inconsistencies, Collier said no wonder, “there’s a very big sense of cynicism towards official authorities.”
And the cynic, he said, could not be blamed if they think that there is conspiracy theory on the part of the government to hide something, like if it was really a terrorist attack, or an inside job, or a destabilization effort, to avoid embarrassment.
Collier said it all boils down to politics.
“It’s very reminiscent of the Superferry (bombing incident in 2005), which, for eight months, we were told it was an accident, the air-conditioner-exploded-on-board theory,” Collier said, but only to be clarified later that it was an act of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Collier said he does not buy the explanation of the PNP that there were no remnants of a bomb, nor were there marks left by a bombing, that is why the bombing angle is ruled out.
He cited for example the possible effects when a C4 is blown off without a casing.
“It’s really important that this confusion is dispelled,” he said.
Asked what is his theory then about the real cause of the blast, the Australian expert, however, only said: “The possibilities I mentioned are more convincing than the accident finding.”
“My evidence (for doubting the PNP report) is the government’s lack of evidence,” he said.
Sought for comment, Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District who headed the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force for the Glorietta 2 blast, told Manila Shimbun in an irked tone: “I have no comment… It’s a waste of time commenting when he had not investigated the incident.”
Ticman said Collier should first read their report before issuing a statement.
“Our report is very convincing, if you look closely,” he said in a phone interview.
Ticman said it would be better if Collier visit his office “and talk with us” for him to get the PNP’s explanation.
The PNP had dislodged the RDX theory days after the incident, saying those were taken actually from the ground floor of Glorietta 2 and not from the basement where the blast happened.
In a separate phone interview, Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) spokesman Alfonso Reyes expressed elation over the statement of Collier.
“We have publicly stated our conclusion that it’s not a gas explosion so we are not surprised that other experts are coming out, expressing doubts on the PNP findings,” Reyes told Manila Shimbun.
He reiterated that they have presented “hard evidence” before the police and the public to back their theory that a gas explosion is unlikely to happen at Glorietta 2.
Criminal and administrative charges have been filed against at least 15 persons for negligence that resulted in the blast, killing 11 people and hurting 108 others./DMS
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment