Blast rocks Makati business district

MANILA, Philippines - An explosion occurred at a vacant lot beside the Salcedo Park in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City yesterday afternoon.

Acting city police chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said no one was killed or injured and no establishments were damaged by the explosion, which happened at around 1:45 p.m. He said the only damage caused by the blast was the shattered rear window of a Subaru Forester (NOE-749) parked near the vacant lot, which sits at the corner of H.V. de la Costa and Tordesillas streets.

Santos said policemen detailed with the Explosives and Ordnance Division were on a routine patrol along Gil Puyat Avenue when they heard the explosion. He said the EOD team cordoned off the area and a K-9 unit checked for more bombs in the area.

According to Santos, members of the EOD unit are still recovering fragments from the supposed improvised explosive device. Santos said police are also not discounting the possibility that the explosion was caused by a powerful firecracker.

Santos said police will viewing footage taken by closed-circuit television cameras installed at nearby establishments. Santos said there were no witnesses to the explosion. Santos also said that police did not receive any intelligence reports prior to the explosion.

According to Santos, it appears that the explosion was apparently not meant to injure or kill as it was set off at a vacant lot during a holiday.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday he has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident “to determine the type of explosive used, possible perpetrators and motives.”

He said authorities have expanded areas for hardening, meaning more areas are under tighter security following the xplosion.

“It was likely intended to frighten than to harm if it was done on purpose. No cause for alarm as all government agencies are jointly exerting effort to resolve the case,” Robredo said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe