NSA Gonzales: Bomb threats ‘normal’ during SONA season

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the controversy they generated, the explosion at the Office of the Ombudsman and the discovery of an improvised explosive device at the Department of Agriculture can be considered "normal," National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said Wednesday. In a radio interview, Gonzales said such incidents have been noted in weeks leading to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). "Alam mo pagka malapit [na] ang SONA lahat ng uri ng grupo...siguro, may mga grupong nag-iisip kumuha ng attention. Normal naman yan na nangyayari sa ganitong panahon [You know, when SONA approaches, several groups think up ways to grab attention. This is normal during these times]," he said on dzXL radio. Last Sunday, an explosion damaged some facilities at the compound of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City. On Monday, an IED was found at the Department of Agriculture, also in Quezon City. Another IED was reportedly found near the One Burgundy Plaza in Quezon City. One of the improvised explosive devices contained C-4 explosives commonly used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but military spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. insisted the material is available commercially. "Ito ay standard issue ng military. However, available na rin sa black market, this can be bought commercially [C-4 is a standard supply by the military. But it is available in the black market and can be bought commercially]," Brawner said. Gonzales brushed off suggestions the incidents were threats to national security, saying the threats are "more on the imagination." "Sa tingin ko ang banta e more on the imagination. Maraming lumalabas na kung anu-anong mga plano. E, yan talagang lumalabas sa ganitong panahon.... Sana huwag kayo patatangay sa ganyan. Ito ang huling SONA ng pangulo at magkakarooon ng election after that, next year election na. Baka medyo pinag-iinit ng kaunti ang mga plano," Gonzales said. [I think the threat is more on the imagination. This will be President Gloria Arroyo’s last SONA and there will be elections after this year. May be some some groups are trying to fire up the public imagination.] Brawner, in a separate radio interview, added such bomb-related threats had been "a trend in recent years." "Parang gusto nilang gamitin ito nang sa gayon ipakita na gusto ni Pangulong Arroyo manatili sa kanyang position. Yan ang opinion din ng ating Press Secretary si Cerge Remonde [The perpetrators want to give the impression that President Arroyo wants to stay in power. That is also the opinion of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde]," he said. Gonzales also said the perpetrators of these incidents can be considered “opposition," but quickly added these are small groups with their own “gimmicks." But he would not name names, and would only say they are “amateurs" who left behind a signature based on the bombs they left behind. "Napag-aralan natin kung ano ang tipo ng bombang ginamit. May signature pag may bombang ginamit, so may pinagdududahan na tayo [We have studied the type of bombs used. The bombs have a signature so we have basis to focus on some groups]," he said. "Marami kasing posibilidad and then of course it can always be bagong grupo na lumalabas claiming to be those responsible. But actually nakikita natin, di talaga matukoy kung sinong grupo ito [There are so many possibilities. It can always be a new group claiming responsibility, but we cannot quite put our finger on their identities]," Brawner added. For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said there are no immediate plans to double security at the Batasan Pambansa complex when Mrs. Arroyo delivers her SONA there on July 27. "Our response to a given situation is always calibrated and appropriate," PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said on dzXL radio. When asked if security arrangements at Batasan and nearby areas would be the same as in past years, he said, “opo [yes]." When asked if there is no reported threat to the SONA other than the traditional protest actions, he said: "Wala naman po [there is no threat]." - GMANews.TV