Military tags Reds in Metro attacks

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) blamed yesterday the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for launching last Wednesday’s attacks in Metro Manila.

Citing initial military intelligence reports, AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga said the incidents were carried out by the NPA as part of its efforts to destabilize and overthrow the government.

"Initially our finding with the police is that these (attacks) were actually done by some… NPA terrorists," Senga said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) was placed on full alert nationwide a day after the attacks, which included several bombings and the strafing of a Makati City building with bullets.

The National Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand, announced efforts to trace the origin of the e-mails sent by the group "Enlightened Warriors," which had claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Malacañang, calling the "Enlightened Warriors" a bogus group trying to exploit the military establishment, vowed to unmask the people behind the incidents.

"We assure the public that these acts of lawlessness and terrorism will not go unpunished once we unmask those responsible for them," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

"We believe that these so-called enlightened warriors are a bogus group just exploiting the military to serve the purpose of an ambitious few," he added.

The group sent e-mails owning up to the attack on the LTA building owned by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s family in Makati City before dawn Wednesday.

On the same day, a bomb exploded underneath a vehicle owned by Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno in Green Meadows in Quezon City.

Two more bombing incidents were reported in Parañaque City and Caloocan City.

Police have yet to identify any suspects behind the Makati attack but the group claimed the attacks "symbolize the widespread frustration and anger among AFP soldiery against the illegitimate and corrupt administration of Gloria Arroyo."

A certain "Miguel Alonzo" spoke in behalf of the group, sending e-mails claiming the four incidents were just "warning blows."

NBI officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring said they would ask the PNP to provide them with copies of the e-mails sent by the group.

Mantaring said he has tasked assistant regional director Elfren Meneses Jr. of the NBI-Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD) to take the lead role in the investigation and trace the origin of the e-mails.

Malacañang earlier floated the possibility that the NPA was behind the attacks, though officials also pointed out critics of the administration could also be responsible.

In the past, communist guerrillas had fired grenades and bullets at buildings housing the Makati offices of oil companies.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said President Arroyo expressed her concern over the incident and ordered authorities to conduct an investigation.

Gonzales said there were no indications that the attacks had been staged by right-wing elements within the AFP.

"The President is concerned and she wants a deep and thorough investigation," Gonzales said in an interview. "She sees this as another threat to the country’s stability."

Gonzales said initial investigations showed no prior record of the so-called Enlightened Warriors and that the NPA was possibly behind the attacks.

Senga added the group never existed in the AFP ranks but just the same, the military is tracking the group and its possible role in the incidents.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said the pronouncements made by the Enlightened Warriors are an insult to the entire military establishment.

"They are insulting even our soldiers," Esperon said, as he maintained the NPA was behind the attacks.

"We have reports" about the NPA’s hand in the attack, he said. "But we cannot disclose our intelligence operations."

Esperon said those behind the attacks were not as "enlightened" as they claimed to be. "They are calling for a revolutionary situation. This is all part of destabilization" efforts of the NPA, he said.

Communist rebels laughed off claims that they were behind last Wednesday’s attacks.

NPA spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal claimed no communist guerrilla units had carried out the attacks.

Rosal said they would be more than willing to claim responsibility but stressed it was not their operation. "I wish we (could) claim that," he said over dzRH radio.

Rosal claimed Malacañang is apparently trying to cover up the restlessness of the military.

The exiled communist leader urged "patriotic-minded officers and rank-and-file soldiers to withdraw support (for the) Arroyo regime."

"Malacañang now trembles in the face of its growing insecurity with its own armed forces," Rosal said.

Rosal said Malacañang is behind the attack to justify another imposition of martial law. Prelude to martial law?

Opposition leaders also claimed the administration was behind the attacks to make it appear that Metro Manila was facing a security threat.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos said the administration "is making up scenarios" that it could blame on the political opposition.

Marcos noted the attacks came on the same day that former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano had begun giving testimony on the wiretap recordings controversy before the House of Representatives.

"They will blame everything on the opposition. The scenario is ideal for them to have a reason to declare an emergency rule. Isn’t it obvious? Why would the bombings coincide with Garci’s surfacing?" Marcos asked.

For his part, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of the United Opposition (Uno) echoed that the administration may be laying the basis for the declaration of martial law.

"Has the creeping martial law now actually crept up to our doorstep and about to enter?" Binay asked.

Marcos warned of the existence of a "Black Army" that would help the administration justify the imposition of military rule.

She claimed the Black Army was organized to protect Mrs. Arroyo from threats from the opposition, the military and other critics.

The group is composed of civilian recruits trained by former military and police officers, she said.

The Young Officers Union-New Generation (YOUng), another shadowy military group critical of the Arroyo administration, claimed Wednesday’s attacks were aimed at diverting public attention from Garcillano’s appearance before the congressional inquiry.

The group also claimed the attacks were part of the administration’s plan to drum up public support for tighter security measures and to suppress political dissent.

On the other hand, Malacañang cried foul over allegations that the government was behind the attacks.

Bunye said it was not surprising that Mrs. Arroyo’s detractors immediately pointed an accusing finger at the Palace as their motives were obvious.

"These incidents have all the earmarks of a scheme to sabotage the government at a time when we are clearly moving ahead," Bunye said. "But these saboteurs will never succeed."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier declined to tag the opposition for the spate of attacks.

While the NPA remains the primary suspect, Ermita said other groups are also riding on the destabilization efforts for their own political ends.

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol said initial investigation revealed the four incidents to be connected with one "unpatriotic" group purportedly behind the attacks.

"These attacks (three car bombings) were apparently connected as evidenced by the fact that black powder was used as an improvised explosive device placed at the rear portion of the vehicles," Querol said.

He pointed out the attacks were not meant to hurt anybody but to draw public attention to their agenda.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao ordered Intelligence Group (IG) director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan to determine whether the incidents were perpetrated by a single group.

"All the cases are being investigated but if we see a semblance of coordinated actions by just one group, then we will follow the lead, identify, arrest and prosecute them," National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said. — With Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero, Jess Diaz, Aurea Calica, James Mananghaya, Michael Punongbayan, AFP