AFP chief urges DOJ to invite him on Glorietta blast probe

MANILA, Philippines - Saying he has nothing to hide, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Ricardo David yesterday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to invite him to appear before the body re-investigating the Glorietta mall blast.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who ordered the reinvestigation into the 2007 deadly blast in Makati City’s central business district, said the AFP chief could be summoned to appear before the probe body.

“I have nothing to hide. In fact, I want to be invited as my name is being mentioned by a certain Colonel Sollano,” David said.

The AFP chief of staff was referring to claims made by now retired Philippine Army (PA) Col. Allan Sollano that he reported to David recovering traces of plastic explosives inside the Glorietta 2 blast site.

Sollano was the former commander of the Army Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) that responded to the Glorietta bombing.

He came out in the open only recently, long after an official investigation conducted by the joint investigation body headed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared that the blast was triggered by accumulated methane gas and not by a bomb.

“Actually, he is one of my personnel and he is a good man and he got sick. I was thinking maybe his mind was affected. He is a good person. In fact, I want to shed light on whatever the DOJ wants to know from me,” David said.