Metro Manila bombs: Opposition, government point to each other

MANILA, Philippines - Security and intelligence officials revealed yesterday another destabilization attempt against the Arroyo administration, claiming opposition leaders were utilizing rightist military elements to overthrow the government.

The opposition, on the other hand, accused the administration of creating the scenario of another destabilization plot to justify forceful measures against critics.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the administration has everything to gain in the series of bombing attempts in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Lacson, a former national police chief, did not rule out the possibility that the spate of bombing attempts is part of a plan to instill fear to justify emergency rule.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, head of the United Opposition (UNO), also said the heightened alert of all security forces following the bombing attempts formed part of a plan to clamp down on the opposition.

“These (police) deployments are not-too-subtle signals to the opposition that Mrs. Arroyo has the muscle to impose her will on the population,” Binay said.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo remained unperturbed by the turn of events, which, he said, has become “seasonal” whenever the President is about to deliver her State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“The President is always aware of these things,” Remonde told a news briefing at Malacañang. “The President does not allow other political intrigue to distract her from her work.”

Remonde said intelligence officials confirmed the bombing attacks and rumors circulating of another coup attempt were “scripted to create a scenario to make it appear that the President wants to hang on to power by declaring martial law or by not holding elections.”

“And then create this ghost and try to use this as rallying point in order to attract massive demonstration… and they are intensifying agitation propaganda, like rumors, news, intrigues to anger the people,” he said.

Losing opposition leader

A senior intelligence official revealed yesterday that a prominent opposition leader is among those involved in the new destabilization plot.

The official described the opposition leader as having very little chance of winning the elections next year.

He said the opposition leader has resorted to using his connections with rightist elements in the military and the police to plant the bombs.

The same opposition politician was involved in the attempts to topple the government in 2003, 2005 and 2006, the official said.

The source said military explosives that were used in the bombing attempts were stolen from the inventory of evidence in previous destabilization attempts.

“There are very few, if any, in the Armed Forces supporting such destabilization efforts. So he (opposition politician) tapped ex-rebels,” the official told The STAR. The source, however, refused to name the politician.

He pointed out the rightist rebels could not have acted on their own since they need financial support and guidance for their mission.

The intelligence official also noted statements coming from some opposition personalities pointing out the explosives used in the bombing attempts came from the military.

Another official said reports of the so-called “August Moon” plot were part of the scenario to divide the military by singling out members of the Philippine Military Academy Class (PMA) of 1978, some of whom are holding sensitive posts in the Armed Forces.

The members of PMA Class 1978 led by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Roberto Rosales said they would never allow themselves to be used for political gains.

He said the reports tagging them in the August Moon plot were meant “to drive a wedge against our class with our senior PMAers.”

Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the unfolding events are “familiar.”

Esperon, a former Armed Forces chief, said the events were similar to previous destabilization attempts.

National Security Adviser Secretary Norberto Gonzales said those involved in the destabilization plot have also renewed their unholy alliance with the communist rebels.

He said those involved in the latest destabilization attempt have “messianic complex.”

The usual suspect

Lacson, on the other hand, said the administration is apparently pinning him down in the latest destabilization attempt.

He also shared the sentiments of Sen. Francis Escudero that the events may be blamed on the political opposition.

“They (administration) keep blaming the opposition, more particular blaming me if anyone gets hurt,” Lacson said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan challenged Malacañang to identify the culprits in the recent bomb attacks.

“We challenge this government to find the culprits and place them behind bars, lest it be accused of being behind these acts meant to create the atmosphere of instability and chaos,” he said.

Pangilinan said the bombings could have been made by groups attempting to disrupt the 2010 elections.

Binay, for his part, noted the statements of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap claiming the bombing attempt at the Department of Agriculture (DA) head office in Quezon City last Monday could be part of a destabilization plot.

“Is Secretary Yap aware of any information that made him conclude that there is a destabilization attempt? If he does, then he should share this information with the proper investigating authorities,” Binay said.

Binay echoed the statements of Lacson that the administration stands to gain from the latest destabilization attempt.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, for his part, warned of efforts of the administration to install President Arroyo beyond 2010 in the wake of the recent bombings and the reported coup plot.

Administration lawmakers, however, dismissed reports tagging the military under the August Moon plot supposedly to help President Arroyo stay in power beyond 2010.

“It’s a figment of the imagination of certain group which is hell-bent on discrediting the President. The dirty tricks department of the President’s detractors is at it again,” Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said.

Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval, for his part, said the coup plot fiction is being peddled to scare the people about an impending military uprising and a cancellation of next year’s elections.

Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said critics would stop at nothing to fabricate stories to put the President in a bad light.

Premature conclusion

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado said the military would try to determine if the two bombing incidents in Quezon City are linked to the latest destabilization plots.

Ibrado though stressed it is premature to conclude the incidents are part of a new plot to overthrow the government.

“We cannot conclude (that) as of this time, it is possible that they are connected. What is their purpose for doing that?” Ibrado asked.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, for his part, said they would rather wait for the police investigation of the incidents.

“I have no theory as of now, I mean I’ll wait for the police investigations,” he said.

As far as the Philippine National Police (PNP) is concerned, there is no factual basis to confirm a destabilization plot in last Monday’s bombing attempts.

“There is no factual basis to connect these bombs with any speculations of destabilization,” PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said.

Espina stressed the explosion that rocked the Office of the Ombudsman and the bomb found at the DA head office could have very well been the work of pranksters.

Espina, however, could not explain how pranksters could have assembled a sophisticated explosive device.

Police yesterday confirmed the “suspicious package” left at a high-end condominium in Quezon City last Monday was an improvised explosive device.

The package, which was contained in a red belt bag wrapped in masking tape, was left near an electric post outside the One Burgundy Plaza, located along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Mrs. Arroyo and her family once lived in a penthouse unit in the condominium.

A security guard reportedly found the package Monday morning and reported the find to the police, at about the same time a janitor also found a similar device at the DA compound.

Earlier Sunday, an explosion rocked the Office of the Ombudsman.

The incidents prompted the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to put its forces under heightened alert and increased police visibility to protect vital installations and state infrastructure in the city.

NCRPO chief Rosales had ordered QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego to head a task force to investigate the incidents.

Police suggested the incidents at the DA and Office of the Ombudsman could have been carried out by the same group.

Police sources revealed the explosive device found at the One Burgundy Plaza and those at the DA came from the same compound of explosives.

An official revealed the explosive device found at the Burgundy Plaza turned out to be a dud.

Rosales confirmed the components of the bomb that exploded at the Office of the Ombudsman and the explosive device retrieved at the DA compound are similar.

“We are now in the thick of identifying the signature of the bombs using the recovered evidence or materials,” Rosales said. – With Rhodina Villanueva, Mike Frialde, Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Reinir Padua, James Mananghaya, Non Alquitran, Katherine Adraneda