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Saturday, February 02, 2008
Bomb attack on tuna plant an 'act of terror'
By Edwin G. Espejo
Of Sun.Star General Santos
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The president of RD Group said Friday the bombing attack outside their tuna canning plant in barangay Tambler Wednesday evening was a "plain, simple, and random" act of terrorism even as the company denied receiving extortion letters from terrorist groups.
Rodrigo Rivera Sr., president and general manager of RD Group, condemned the attack, and promised to shoulder the burial and hospital bills of the blast victims.
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Four people were killed and at least 27 others were wounded when a huge explosion rocked the gate of Philbest Canning Corporation, owned by RD Group, early Wednesday evening just as workers were rushing out from work.
Initial reports from police and military explosive and ordnance experts said the explosion was triggered by a timing device fashioned from a mobile phone.
The improvised explosive device (IED) was reportedly made out of a water pump pipe and traces of trinitrotoluene (TNT) were found by bomb experts in the blast scene.
TNT is a chemical compound commonly used as explosive material.
Police authorities earlier said they are looking into every possible angle, including labor disputes at the tuna canning plant, as motive behind the blast.
But Rivera was quick to deny that labor problem was behind the blast.
"We have none of that in our companies," he said. RD Group is a conglomerate of homegrown businesses owned by the Riveras.
It is into tuna fishing, real estate, aquaculture, banking and finance, tuna canning and processing and export, tin can manufacturing, resort and hotel business, shipbuilding and other businesses.
The January 30 explosion was the 16th of its kind since May of 2000 and the first since January 10 last year when an improvised explosive device was detonated at a lotto outlet near the public market in the city.
Six persons died in that explosion.
The bloodiest explosions were at the April 20002 Fitmart Department Store, also owned by RD Group, and the December 2004 public market blast where 15 and 16 people were killed, respectively.
Previous explosions in the city were blamed on the Abu Sayyaf group, a suspected terror group with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah and the al Qaeda.
Meanwhile, General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon is downplaying the incident. He said Wednesday's explosion did not fit the terrorist pattern.
"Philbest was outside the city proper," he said.
The city mayor however said he is still waiting for the final result of the police investigation on the incident.
He earlier ordered the police and military to go after the perpetrators.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 2, 2008 issue)
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