DOJ chief: NBI has 'breakthrough' in Bar blast probe

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday that arrests are to be expected this week as the National Bureau of Investigation has made a major breakthrough in its investigation on the Sept. 26 post-Bar examinations explosion outside a Manila university. "There is one angle, but I cannot say it yet. NBI Director [Magtanggol] Gatdula said we cannot be disclosing further facts because this may jeopardize the operations. But within the week, there will be a breakthrough. We have identified [the suspect or perpetrators]," De Lima told reporters. The grenade blast occurred outside the De La Salle University campus along Taft Avenue in Manila, during the traditional Salubong where well-wishers greet the law graduates who have just finished four successive weekends of the grueling Bar exams. At least 47 people were injured in the explosion. Jed Carlo Lazaga, a fourth year law student of the University of San Jose Recoletos Law School in Cebu province, was earlier accused as the one who allegedly threw the grenade. However, Lazaga denied the allegation and accused members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity of mugging him on suspicion that he was responsible for the blast. The Supreme Court has formed a committee to look into the violence and had until October 15 to complete the probe. However, because the NBI is still wrapping up its investigation, the court decided to extend the inquiry by a week. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV