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Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Firecracker blasts sow panic in courthouse
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- Hundreds of people scampered out of the Hall of Justice Tuesday after firecrackers set off at the building's second floor by an unidentified culprit exploded one after the other.
The pyrotechnic product popularly known as "judas belt"--a string of small firecrackers tied together--was exploded in the floor housing the regional and municipal trial courts.
The rapid gunfire sound caused by the exploding firecrackers sent judges, lawyers, employees, jail guards, prisoners and people attending the hearings into a panic.
It was reportedly intended as a threat to Judges Aida Layug and Irin Zenaida Buan who were presiding over their respective courts in the justice hall Tuesday.
Responding policemen headed by Senior Insp. Rolando D. Mallari, Angeles Police Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) chief, said they found a note addressed to Judges Layug and Buan on the spot where the firecrackers exploded.
Mallari said the building was later declared free and safe of any other explosives by the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) explosives and ordnance disposal (EOD) members who were sent to the scene by Senior Supt. Jimmy F. Restua, Angeles City Police Office (Acpo) director.
Mallari said some of the people in the courthouse rushed to the TEG office and reported the explosions when these occurred at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
He quickly ordered police to close the gate and put up a roadblock to prevent the escape of the perpetrators of the incident reported initially as a shooting.
Mallari, together with other available traffic policemen, quickly rushed to the courthouse to augment policemen assigned as regular security men at the building.
His group assisted the judges and other people to safely leave the building until the arrival of the Swat team.
Chief Insp. Baltazar Mamaril, station 3 chief, disclosed that the "judas belt" firecracker was discreetly sneaked into the second floor restrooms.
(October 6, 2004 issue)
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