Probers set sights on 'personalities' in bus bombing

MANILA, Philippines - Police are eyeing certain “personalities” who may have knowledge or involvement in the Makati bus bombing that killed five people and wounded 18 others nearly a month ago, an insider said yesterday.

The source declined to give names, saying it is still premature to identify people without sufficient evidence against them. The insider said while a possible motive is “terrorism,” what is puzzling is that no one has owned up to the Jan. 25 attack.

“Terrorists usually admit to their crimes immediately after their attacks,” the source said. “But of course, it’s too early to tell if they have changed their strategies.”

The source said investigators will also “review” issues that landed in the headlines just before the blast took place. “Certain people can be behind the attack so those issues should be analyzed,” the source said.

Chief Superintendent Jose Arne delos Santos, head of the task group formed to probe the bombing, said investigators could not be expected to come up with results this early because the bombing is not an ordinary crime.

The government is offering P2 million for information on two men who were seen leaving the Newman Goldliner bus just before it exploded at the corner of Ayala Avenue and EDSA.