Friday, November 05, 2004
Attackers fire grenades at two Manila oil companies (10:10 a.m.)
MANILA -- Attackers fired grenades at the Manila offices of two Philippine oil companies early Friday, but they failed to explode and there were no casualties, the companies said.
The grenades shattered glass at the high-rise offices of Caltex Philippines Inc. and Petron Corp., but the early-morning attacks caused no injuries, the companies said.
"I suppose this is a form of protest over the price increases, which we really cannot control, because it is the world market that is determining the price," Petron spokeswoman Virginia Ruivivar said.
Oil prices have been steadily rising in the past weeks, prompting street protests.
Jejomar Binay, the mayor of Manila's financial district, said police officers didn't notice the attacks because there was no explosion.
Security guards said they saw a white vehicle speed away after the attack on the Caltex office, radio reports said.
Similar attacks in the past have been claimed by a breakaway faction of the country's mainstream communist rebels. (AP) |
