Aquino assures high-priority probe on Bar exam blast

(Updated 3:26 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III has assured a law student that the government will prioritize the inquiry into the explosion that marred the end of the Bar examinations at a Manila university last Sunday. On Wednesday, Philippine General Hospital director Rolando Enrique Domingo said Aquino visited the blast victims, including San Sebastian College law student Raissa Laurel, whose legs were amputated and who is confined at the state-run hospital's Intensive Care Unit. "I heard the President say the government will prioritize the investigation and track down the suspects," Domingo said. In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the president shared to Raissa his experience when he was shot by rogue soldiers near the gates of Malacañang in 1987 in one of the coup 'd etats against the administration of his late mother, Corazon Aquino. Aquino, then 27, sustained five gunshot wounds in the attack. "He commended them for their spirit and reminded them there is more to go on," Valte said. About 47 were injured in last Sunday's explosion outside the De La Salle University campus in Taft Avenue. But Laurel was among those severely hurt because the explosive went off in front of her. Domingo said Laurel "absorbed most of the shock," that is why other victims only sustained minor injuries. Three people, including Laurel, are confined at the PGH. The other victims are being treated at the Manila Doctors Hospital and other Manila-based hospitals. Domingo said Laurel was in high spirits when the President visited her. "Mukhang natuwa naman sya na dinalaw at binigyan siya ng atensyon ni presidente, at si presidente nagulat sya sa sigla at pagkapositive ng outlook ng biktima (She seemed happy that the President visited her and gave her attention. The President was also surprised because of her positive outlook)," said the PGH head. On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that based on the findings by the National Bureau of Investigation, a grenade caused Sunday's explosion in front of the De La Salle University campus in Manila. (See: Grenade, not pillbox, caused post-Bar exams blast — NBI) A suspect in the explosion, Jed Carlo Lazaga, a 4th year law student of the University of San Jose Recoletos Law School in Cebu province, denied any hand in the incident. (See: Suspect denies hand in DLSU blast) — with Jam Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV