P1.2M reward up for La Salle bombers' arrest

MANILA (Updated 1:30 p.m.) -- The reward offered for the arrest of the suspects in the grenade-throwing incident outside a university here has increased to P1.2 million Monday.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula said a group of businessmen went to his office last Saturday and offered P1 million for the arrest of those who perpetrated the explosion outside the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue last September 26.

Gatdula, however, refused to identify the businessmen.

The offer came just a day after a fraternity group based in the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University announced a P200,000 reward to those who can provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.

Forty-four students were wounded in the incident, which police authorities said was caused by warring fraternity groups.

The explosion occurred while revelers, mostly law students from different schools all over the country, were celebrating the culmination of the 2010 Bar examination for aspiring lawyers.

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Fraternities tagged in the blast, however, denied any involvement.

Antonio Bernardo, president of the Fraternal Order of Utopia, said they condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack that "caused injuries and sufferings to many young people, whose aspirations to become lawyers have been adversely affected by this dastardly and cowardly act."

Bernardo said the reward would entice informants into pointing those responsible for the crime.

The fraternity also expressed its all-out support to the ongoing investigation being conducted by an eight-member panel created by the Supreme Court.

The fact-finding panel, chaired by Associate Justice Martin Villarama, was mandated to investigate the violence and to recommend sanctions for filing of appropriate charges against those found criminally, civilly and administratively liable.

Three magistrates of the Supreme Court are members of the Fraternal Order of Utopia Alumni Foundation. These are: Chief Justice Renato Corona, Associate Justices Roberto Abad and Arturo Brion.

The Association of Law Students of the Philippines earlier vowed to extend financial assistance to the victims of the blast through a series of fund raising activities, such as fun runs and concerts. (Sunnex)