Robredo sees link between bus blast, anti-carjacking drive

(Updated 2:27 p.m.) Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Wednesday said terrorism and diversionary tactic are among the possible motives being looked into by authorities investigating Tuesday's bombing of a passenger bus in Makati City. Interviewed after the Peace and Order Consultative Meeting with Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto and Pasay police officials, Robredo said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also zeroing in on destabilization efforts against the government as possible motives behind the blast. “Palagay ko kung possible motives ay marami, isa po yung terorista, pwede ring diversionary tactics, ikatlo po, posibleng destabilization (I think the possible motives are terrorism, diversionary tactics and even destabilization)," he said. Asked on the possibility of the bombing as a diversionary tactic, Robredo noted that the government has been hitting hard on carnapping incidents in the past few weeks, and the bombing could be a ploy to temporarily divert the attention of the public and the authorities. “That is the most possible, but we are not closing all the possibilities this time," he said. Robredo, however, assured the public that the bombing that killed at least five people will not disrupt government efforts against carjack gangs and their perceived protectors in the government. Simultaneous probe Robredo said his agency, which supervises the PNP, will not allow the bombing incident to sidetrack efforts to unmask and prosecute carjackers' protectors. “The probe on the bus blast along EDSA in Makati City last Tuesday afternoon will not sidetrack us. We will investigate both cases [bombing and carjacking incidents] simultaneously," he said in a separate interview on dzRH radio. Asked on the possibility that the bombing was connected to recent carjacking incidents, Robredo said, “Hindi ko inaalis ang possibilidad na yan (I am not yet discounting that possibility)." At least five people were killed while more than 10 others were hurt in a blast that ripped the right side of a Newman Goldliner bus. On the same day of the bombing, a suspect in the carjack-slay of car dealer Venson Evangelista, Alfred Mendiola, confirmed the Dominguez carjack gang had links to the Land Transportation Office. The Dominguez gang had also been linked to the carjack-slay of Emerson Lozano – son of Marcos lawyer Oliver Lozano – and the younger Lozano's driver Ernani Sencil. Lozano and Sencil disappeared Jan. 12 in Quezon City while on their way to meet a prospective buyer of Lozano's van. Sencil's charred body was found in Tarlac Jan. 13, while Lozano's was found on Jan. 14 in Pampanga. Lozano's van was found burning in Bataan on Jan. 19. On the other hand, Evangelista disappeared Jan. 13 during a test-drive of a Land Cruiser for a prospective buyer in Quezon City. His charred and brutalized body was found in Nueva Ecija Jan. 14. Carjacking protectors In the same radio interview Wednesday morning, Robredo also said authorities are drawing up a list of names to investigate, including possible protectors of carjack gangs. He said he is coordinating with Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima on the matter. "We have drawn up a list of names we want to investigate. There had been cases where the authorities concerned were either negligent or in cahoots with the carjackers," he said. "Hopefully di lang aalisan ng maskara kundi magkaroon ng mas matatag na kaso (We hope to not just unmask these protectors but also build airtight cases against them)," he added. All angles considered Meanwhile, Secretary De Lima on Wednesday said the government is not ruling out the possibility that Tuesday's bus bombing may be a destabilization attempt or a diversionary tactic. "We have to look at all angles, including those saying it's part of a destabilization plan or a move to distract our attention. It could be the handiwork of any group, either criminal group or those with political agenda or terrorists," De Lima told reporters. She added that while the government cannot yet make a conclusion, "we cannot let our guards down by focusing on one angle, such as terrorism." Shortly after Tuesday's incident, President Beningo Aquino III said the bombing could have been the handiwork of terrorists. Early on Wednesday, Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome confirmed that an 81-millimeter mortar shell was used in the bus bombing that bore the "signature" of past similar incidents in Mindanao. According to De Lima, who is part of the President's ad hoc Cabinet cluster on security, the cluster has set for Wednesday a meeting that will be presided by Robredo. She likewise said the meeting may pave the way for the creation of a DOJ-DILG panel that will look into the bus bombing, adding that the Justice Department will help build up a case against the suspects. "We are institutionalizing the mechanism for prosecutors to help in the case build-up — evaluate the evidence, determine what's relevant, material and sufficient, so that when the cases are filed, the charges will stand," said De Lima. — with a report by Sophia M. Dedace/LBG/KBK, GMANews.TV