Plot to bomb Divisoria Mall foiled by guards?

A plan to bomb the busy Divisoria Mall in Binondo, Manila is believed to have been foiled with the interception of a woman with a half-pound chemical explosive and the discovery of three "wired" batteries in a comfort room and fire escape. Police said the bomb materials were being smuggled in for assembly.

The materials were found one after another by mall security guards last Monday but reported to police only on Tuesday noon.

Binondo police station commander Superintendent Josephus Angan said the ammonium sulfate, was found by security guard Rolly Valdez while routinely inspecting shoppers' bags at the Comercio street entrance of the mall.

Valdez told police that he opened a bag of a lady shopper at about 12:40 p.m. and lifted out a plastic bag containing the powdery substance. Before he could do anything, the nervous woman suddenly ran away, leaving the guard puzzled.

Angan said, however, that Valdez was able to give WPD intelligence operatives a sketch of the woman's face. The WPD intelligence unit is now following-up the case.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. said that had the bombers succeeded in assembling the explosive, the blast would have been similar to that of the SM Megamall explosion. One person was killed while 17 others were wounded in that incident.

"It is possible that they may also be planning to plant the explosive in the comfort room because one battery was recovered in the ladies comfort room," Angan told The STAR.

The three batteries -- all reportedly nine-volts -- had wires attached to it, said Angan. The first battery was recovered in one of the cubicles of the female comfort room on the mall's second floor while two more were found near the fire escape. All were reportedly left on the floor.

The comfort room battery was found about 4 p.m. by guard Moises Dome while it was Valdez who recovered the two other batteries.

"It may only have entered the guards' minds that it was a bomb that was being smuggled piece by piece after they recovered the wired batteries," said Angan.

Angan said he has beefed-up policemen assigned to the mall.