Blast rocks Lubao residence of Bong Pineda

ANGELES CITY — A "low-level explosive device" went off in front of the main gate of the sprawling residence of alleged former jueteng lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, father of Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, along the MacArthur Highway before dawn yesterday, police said.

"The explosion was reportedly loud, but only produced a dent on the steel gate. No one was hurt," said Senior Superintendent Dindo Espina, Pampanga police director.

Espino said there were no clues as to who was behind the blast, which occurred at about 4:15 a.m.

"I talked with the mayor and he assured me his family does not know of any threats to their safety," he said.

He, however, said criminal syndicates could have planted the explosive to retaliate against the mayor’s fight against criminality.

But Espina cited reports that a security guard at the Pineda compound had a fight with a resident recently.

"We are looking into the possibility that the guard was the target," he said.

At about 10:30 a.m. yesterday, a group calling itself "Gawad ng Kawal ng Bayan" called up a television station in Quezon City and claimed responsibility for the blast.

"We are also investigating this, but I think that group is really dubious," he said.

The same group also claimed responsibility for the explosion at the Yuchengco building in Makati City recently.

Espina said Bong Pineda and his wife, provincial board member Lilia Pineda, seldom stay at their Lubao residence since they also have a house in Greenhills, San Juan.

"It’s only their son, the mayor, who stays there," he said.

"The Pinedas are well loved in Pampanga," he said, adding that the family has been known to be a benefactor of poor local folk.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., spokesman of the Philippine National Police, said they are treating the blast differently from the slay attempt on Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez and the supposed abduction of Augusto "Aging" Lisan although the three men had been linked to illegal gambling.

"We have no actual basis and it is hard to speculate in the absence of evidence," he said. "The PNP is treating these three cases differently since it seems they are not related to one another."

Five armed men reportedly seized Lisan last June 7 in Navotas. Six days earlier, Sanchez suffered second-degree burns while his driver and police bodyguard were killed when a blast ripped through the governor’s Hummer H2 in front of the Batangas provincial Capitol.

The Pinedas are known close allies of President Arroyo, who is a registered voter of Lubao, the hometown of her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal.

When he was still Vice President, Mrs. Arroyo stood as a sponsor in the wedding of Dennis, the oldest son of the Pineda couple.

During the Senate impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson tagged Bong Pineda as a jueteng lord who allegedly gave payolas to Estrada.

Pineda never appeared in any of the Senate hearings despite subpoenas, as he was reportedly undergoing medical treatment in the United States. — With Ric Sapnu and Cecille Suerte Felipe