AFP vows no repeat of Valentine's Day bombing

MANILA, Philippines - The military assured the public yesterday that the Valentine’s Day bombing in 2005 would not be repeated.

Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Armed Forces National Capital Region Command chief, said they will conduct intelligence activities to thwart any attempt to commit atrocities on Valentine’s Day on Sunday.

“We are setting in place plans for intelligence. It is our first line of defense,” he said. “Valentine’s Day is about love towards one’s spouse or partner. During these times, people relax and if you are a terrorist, you would like to create shenanigan this time. This will have a big psychological impact on the people.”

Lt. Col. Jose Faustino, NCRCOM assistant chief of staff for intelligence, said the military continues to monitor developments in Metro Manila. “But up to now, we did not receive reports (about plans to stage a similar bombing),” he said.

The operations of the Light Railway Transit trains, however, had been stopped twice yesterday due to bomb threats.

The NCRCOM urged the public to report suspicious persons or activities to ensure that Valentine’s Day would be free from violence.

The public may report via text message to 0920-6989953.

On Feb. 14, 2005, an improvised explosive device exploded inside a passenger bus traveling along EDSA in Makati, killing three people and injuring several others. The Abu Sayyaf bandit group admitted being behind the attacks.

Last year, the Philippine National Police announced that it has captured Dinno-Amor Rosalejos Pareja, the suspected mastermind in the bombing.

He was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by the Makati regional trial court in 2005.

Pareja, who was arrested in Marawi City, was believed to be a leader of the Rajah Solaiman Movement, a group of Muslim converts.       – Alexis Romero