Aquino sees terrorist hand in Makati bus blast

(Updated 8 p.m.) The deadly bus explosion along the Makati section of EDSA — a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila — could be a handiwork of terrorists, President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday. “Terrorist aspect ang talagang sinusuri dito. Pinapa-review ko kung paano nakalusot ito," said Aquino at a press briefing in Malacañang several hours after the explosion, which killed four people and injured more than a dozen. (We’re looking at terrorist aspect. I’ve ordered a review on how this thing happened.) Aquino said he has ordered a review on the military and police’s threat assessment and stricter security on target areas. “Walang bansa na immune sa terrorist threat (no country is immune to terrorist threats)," he said. Aquino did not say which group may be behind the explosion. Similar attacks in Metro Manila in the past, however, had been blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, Moro separatist rebels, and the Rajah Sulaiman Group. “Tignan muna natin ang ebidensiya bago maghusga (Let’s look at the evidence first before passing judgment). I don’t want to libel anybody. I have my suspicions pero hindi ako pwedeng mag-engage sa haka-haka (but I could not engage in speculations)," Aquino said.
The Philippines ranks eighth in the list of 10 most dangerous countries in the world, based on the Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) by Maplecroft. TRI was developed for companies to assess terrorism risks to their international assets. It measures not only the risks of an attack, but also the chances of mass casualties occurring. The other nine on the list were Somalia (1), Pakistan (2), Iraq (3), Afghanistan (4), Palestinian territories (5), Colombia (6), Thailand (7), Yemen (9) and Russia (10). Major western economies like the United States (33), France (44) and Britain (46), were included in the medium risk category. Canada (67) and Germany (70) are rated as low risk. In November last year, Aquino downplayed foreign travel advisories warning of possible terrorist attacks in Metro Manila, saying they were probably based on raw data. Inventory The President also ordered an inventory of the supplies and materials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly C4, a type of explosive used by the military. “Pinapaimbentaryo ko ang mga kasangkapan ng PNP at AFP lalo na yung C4, mga consumables ito para masigurado na walang nawawala sa pag-aaruga ng PNP at AFP," he said. (I’ve ordered an inventory of police and military supplies particularly C4 to make sure that none of them reached the enemies of the state.) Aquino is planning to inspect the bombed bus after the police are through with their investigation. The bus is expected to be brought to the Southern Police District headquarters. He is also set to visit the victims of the bombing who are confined in different hospitals. Aquino expressed sympathy to the families of the fatalities as he assured that the government will exert all its effort and use its resources to go after the perpetrators. Vice President Jejomar Binay, who rushed to the scene after the bombing, also sent his sympathies to the victims as he condemned what he described as a “deplorable and violent act." “Such an act should not go unpunished," said the former Makati mayor in a statement. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, meanwhile, directed the police to determine the “signature" of the perpetrators of the crime. “I sympathize with the relatives of the victims. We should bring to justice the perpetrators of this bombing incident," he said in a statement. The PNP is under the supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Robredo said the bombing was a “well-planned and deliberate act to kill innocent people and to sow fear among the civilian populace." - KBK, GMANews.TV