Palace open to new probe of Glorietta 2 blast

Malacañang is open to ordering a reinvestigation of the Glorietta 2 bombing if there is enough evidence to prove that an explosive—and not methane gas as concluded by authorities that undertook the investigation—caused the blast three years ago. In a press briefing on Wednesday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the palace may ask the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reopen the case if retired Army Col. Allan Sollano, former head of the Army Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD), could provide them with more evidence. "Kung meron naman po it will be properly addressed again to the PNP para maimbestigahan. We can always ask for reinvestigation kung meron pong sapat na ebidensya," the Palace official said. In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday, the third anniversary of the explosion that killed 11 people and injured more than 100 others, Sollano said the blast that rocked Glorietta 2 in October 2007 was caused by an explosive device. He also hinted that the investigation results linking the previous administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the blast had been whitewashed. Sollano, who headed the Army EOD unit that investigated the blast in the Makati mall, was reportedly prompted to make his disclosure after suffering a mysterious ailment a year ago. Valte said Malacanang has not received any official communication from Sollano. The palace welcomes any report from "anybody who has information on such a sensitive matter," she added. The Palace is leaving it up to the Truth Commission to determine whether it will also probe the Glorietta 2 blast in its investigation of anomalies of the Arroyo administration, Valte said. - Jam Sisante/DM, GMANews.TV