|
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
P.5M bounty offered to get Feb. 14 bombers
By Jonathan F. Fernandez
MANILA -- Police on Tuesday offered P500,000 for information leading to the capture of those behind the bomb blasts in the cities of Makati, Davao, and General Santos on Monday night.
Cartographic sketches of the two persons linked to the bombings in Makati and Davao were released. In General Santos, police said they have arrested one of those tagged in the blast.
Government officials, senators, Catholic Church and civil society representatives condemned the bombings that killed at least 10 people and injured 100 others.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said the families of the fatalities in the blasts and the wounded are entitled to compensation.
One of two persons believed responsible for the bombing of a bus in Makati was described by the fare collector as between 25 to 30 years old, with fair complexion and medium build, and 5'4" to 5'6" in height. He was wearing a pair of dark pants, a plain white T-shirt and white rubber shoes.
The suspected Davao City bomber was described to be around 40 years old, 4'11" tall, and with dark complexion and medium build. He is one of two persons seen putting down a box beside the eatery near Gate 1 of the Davao City bus terminal shortly before the blast and now being hunted down by authorities.
Investigators said the bus bombers used a C4 type of explosive device.
Despicable acts
At Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked Filipinos to unite and be vigilant against terrorism amid this latest incident. The Palace also condemned the trio of bomb attacks.
She also indirectly tagged the Abu Sayyaf and former members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as behind the blasts.
Arroyo called for vigilance in the grassroots and tighter coordination with international allies. She said diplomatic security teams will leave shortly to muster support in the regional neighborhood and among Islamic nations.
Her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the blasts were "despicable acts of terror".
"We ask the people to brace themselves against these attacks on our freedom and security," added Bunye.
Bunye advised the public not be cowed by these terror tactics and urged them to unite and be vigilant and take the attacks "as challenges we must face to win our peace and stability as a nation."
He said no person in his right mind would hurt innocent civilians and by-standers.
"We shall be relentless in our offensive against terror, and keep innocent civilians out of harm's way. The whole civilized world, including the Islamic countries, is with us in this righteous fight," he said.
Bunye also said foreign affairs and defense officials will brief the diplomatic corps on the Sulu situation and the bombings.
Distraction
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Solaiman said Monday night his group, in joint operations with loyal supporters of ex-MNLF leader Nur Misuari, is responsible for the attacks, which he claimed were done in retaliation to harassment against Muslims in Manila and in Mindanao.
Solaiman threatened that his group will wreak more havoc on the lives and properties of more civilians and that they will "make no distinction" between the soldiers and the ordinary Filipinos.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Abu Sayyaf and renegade groups could have undertaken the bombings to serve as a "distraction" to the military offensive against them on the island of Jolo in Sulu.
Ermita tried to downplay the bombings, saying government has been receiving intelligence reports since last year about possible attempts.
He said there is "a punitive action" being undertaken by the military against the renegade group of the MNLF.
The Jemaah Islamiyah also has a part in the bombings because it trains bombers to make and use improvised explosive devices, Ermita added. But he said JI members are holed up deep in Mt. Cararao because they are afraid of being caught.
Ermita said authorities were not able to prevent the bombings from happening despite receiving intelligence reports about them because "it is very difficult to safeguard every place."
Softest target
He said Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza has ordered heightened security in all public infrastructures, ports of entry, and transportation terminals.
However, he admitted it would be hard to catch a determined terrorist who boards a bus in between stops and checkpoints.
Mendoza admitted the softest target for terrorists is the transportation sector, which is why they are meeting with bus operators to educate the drivers, conductors and the riding public on anti-terrorism measures.
Arroyo condoled with the families of the dead and the wounded. She also acknowledged the efforts of government officials and the bravery of government troops who battled with the bandits and renegades.
"I also acknowledge the outpouring of sentiments among our Muslim brethren condemning these despicable acts and rallying the Islamic community behind peace, tolerance and development," she said.
Arroyo and her family went to the Makati Medical Center Monday night to visit those who were wounded by the blast in the Ayala MRT station in Makati.
They were supposed to have a Valentine's Day dinner at the nearby Hotel Intercontinental Manila but they canceled it because of the bombing.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, who accompanied the President to Makati, said government will foot the hospital expenses of the victims and that it will give P10,000 each to the families of those who died.
Declare emergency
At the Senate, senators condemned the bombings as they urged the public to help the government, especially law enforcers, in identifying the culprits.
Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said President Arroyo should consider declaring a state of emergency.
"I fully support a declaration of a state of emergency in the affected areas in the exercise of the police power of the President in order to fully prevent imminent danger on our people and economy," Magsaysay said.
Opposition Senator Juan Ponce Enrile asked the military to finish the battle with Moro rebels loyal to Misuari, ex-governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as possible in order to save innocent lives.
Enrile said the bombings were well orchestrated, in which the intention was to launch massive guerilla warfare not only in Mindanao but also in Metro Manila.
"Since we did not provoke this event in Sulu, let it be finished once and for all. If we cannot fight a single war like that and finish it off, then finally it is better to surrender and separate Mindanao," Enrile said.
For his part, Senator Ralph Recto appealed to the public to support the government's fight against the Abu Sayyaf, which has claimed responsibility for the trio of bombings.
"This is the time to unite behind the President. There should be multi-partisan support to her plans. We are talking about lives here," Recto said.
Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada asked concerned citizens to help the police and other law enforcement agencies by providing information that will lead to the identification and arrest of the bombers.
Clash cause
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) committee on public affairs, agreed the bombing of the three cities was "cruel" and "barbarous".
While he condemned the bombings, Iniguez said there is also a need for an in-depth study on what forced the perpetrators to commit such a crime since the act constitutes deep anger.
"We should try to look to the bottom of it why did they do it," added Iniguez.
He said it is important to determine the real cause of the incident so that the government and society could address and correct matters that need to be corrected.
Employers and labor groups also condemned the bombings.
Rene Soriano, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), said the attacks in Metro Manila and in Davao and General Santos will definitely affect the country's economy.
"The bombings will have destabilizing effect on economy and on the momentum we have attained," Soriano said.
Effect, compensation
On the other hand, Donald Dee, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said the bombings were a "show of force" and were meant to force the government to stop the armed conflict in Jolo.
Asked if the bombings would have an effect on the entry of investors in the country, Dee said "there may be knee-jerk reaction but investors will see that the fundamentals remain very positive so there will be immediate correction. The important thing is for us all to assist the authorities and be mindful of things around us".
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) also condemned the bombing and appealed for a stop to further terror acts that victimize innocent civilians.
Reverend Dong Cucio, deputy director-general of the political party Bangon Pilipinas and speaking in behalf of party leader Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" Villanueva, said they are saddened and outraged by the bombings.
Justice Secretary Gonzalez, meanwhile, said the families of the fatalities in the Makati City bus bombing are entitled to compensation from the government.
In a press briefing, Gonzalez said the families of the persons killed and injured are entitled to receive up to P10,000 from the government.
"That is all the government can afford," Gonzalez said. "They may apply for assistance at the regional prosecutors' office of the DOJ (Department of Justice)," he added.
Under Republic Act (RA) 7309, any person who is a victim of a violent crime is entitled to a maximum of P10,000 or the amount necessary to reimburse the claimant the expenses incurred for hospitalization, medical treatment, loss of wage, loss of support or other expenses directly related to the injury, whichever is lower.
This is without prejudice to the right of the claimant to seek other remedies under existing law.
Full alert
PNP Chief Edgar Aglipay said all available police intelligence units have been mobilized to assist in the investigation and he assured the public they are exerting all efforts to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
He said post-blast investigations are underway in the three explosion sites.
"Our trained personnel are handling the investigation and making their own analysis of the situation. Our initial investigation has started off on a much wider scope as all possibilities are being looked into and carefully considered, despite earlier admissions by a group that claimed responsibility for the almost simultaneous but separate explosions," he said.
In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. placed the entire Metro Manila police force under full alert status and ordered the establishment of police checkpoints on strategic locations within the metropolis effective Monday night as a precautionary measure against any untoward acts by unscrupulous individuals to sow terror and fear among Metro Manilans.
Razon said the intensification of police visibility patrols, establishment of checkpoints and stricter security measures for Metro Manila are necessary to deter individuals or group of people from pursuing their ill motives of sowing terror and fear.
The five police district directors were given orders to implement "very tight" security measures.
The NCRPO chief also ordered the deployment of additional policemen at the various oil depots, embassies as well as other public places to provide security to the people of Metro Manila.
Inspection teams from the PNP national headquarters, regional office down to the district and station levels will be fielded to inspect and supervise police visibility points and checkpoints, said Razon.
Contingency measures
Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes enjoined all governors and mayors nationwide, as heads of the Local Peace and Order Councils (POCs) and in coordination with law enforcement agencies, to implement contingency measures against terrorism in their respective localities in the wake of the bombings.
Reyes asked local chief executives to exercise heightened vigilance and alertness to pre-empt or neutralize acts of terrorism from being perpetrated by terrorist groups in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
"Now more than ever, we must continue our vigilance and put our acts together because close coordination between and among the local governments, the residents, the PNP, and other law enforcement agencies are key factors in the fight against terrorism," he said.
The DILG secretary also urged local officials to review and strengthen their respective Integrated Area and Community Public Safety Plans, especially its anti-terrorism component, and to closely coordinate with the Armed Forces, PNP, and other concerned agencies in the implementation of their contingency measures against terrorism.
Among those killed in the blasts were Bernardo Restituto, Jose Balboa, Romeo Dalot, Olivar Melgar, Renato Ceno, and two still unidentified persons.
Those injured in the three bombings included Jonafer Caingcoy, Jerico Aderama, Evelyn Nagahan, Willie Navarro, Alexander Santos, Anthony Reyes, Ma. Dolores Dolfo, Eric Mahinay, Elvira Covachita, Donito Domini, Rizza Sandera, Pura Alesa, Billy Jose Adrad, Nieves Siren, Joyce Prejo, Don Michael Francisco, Sonia Resuella, Apolinar Tabanilla, Edcel Uy, Mia Manalo, Jerome Manalo, Vivian Eufemia, Marilou Jacoba, Jeymar Falforte, Alryn dela Cruz, Edilberto Orlina, Adelson Oso, and Irene Arcilla. (With RB/JPM/MSN/BBP and PR)
(February 16, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
