P1-M reward offered for info on Makati bus blast suspects

(Updated 3:27 p.m.) President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has offered a P1-million reward for any information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the bus bombing in Makati City that killed five people and wounded a dozen others. The amount will be sourced from the contingency fund of the Office of the President. "We will increase that as necessary," Aquino told reporters in Malacañang Friday. Aquino relayed to his Cabinet members his intention to give a reward during a meeting of the intelligence cluster Thursday afternoon. In the three-hour meeting, Aquino was given an update on the progress of the investigation. "There was a review of all potential groups that have manifested or have done similar incidents to the bombing of January 25, the steps being undertaken to identify the perpetrators as well as yung actual methodology involved in solving this crime but I will not reveal how we will capture them," Aquino said. With the review on the potential threats and the lack of security personnel, the President and his Cabinet agreed to maximize the use of force multipliers such as barangay [village] tanod [watchmen] and officials. "There is really a need to get force multipliers and the citizens be involved in this fight against terrorism. Barangay tanods and officials and various other organizations will be tapped to provide us with a very thorough monitoring arm for the government in our fight against people who will seek to terrorize the citizenry," the President said. Also present during the meeting were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Secretary Ricky Carandang, Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman. National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, officials of the Philippine National Police and Department of Interior and Local Government also attended the meeting. Since the explosion on Tuesday, authorities have yet to pinpoint any group or individual responsible for the incident. On Wednesday, police said an 81-millimeter mortar shell used for the incident was the "signature" of past bus bombings in Mindanao and parts of Metro Manila — including the Rizal Day bombing in 2000 and the Valentine's Day bombing of a bus in Makati City in 2005. The secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has already denied any involvement in the bombing incident, even offering help to the government in solving the case. Bus marshals Metro Manila police elements have fielded bus marshals to prevent a repeat of the incident. In Manila, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that at least 70 two-member teams of bus marshals boarded buses bound for Central Luzon. Manila Police District spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said the police teams, some of which include policewomen, were in full uniform. For his part, Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said his office fielded 372 bus marshals Friday morning. "Our personnel who are all in uniform will be boarding at random buses in EDSA and some interior streets, and they will disembark (then) board another bus," Bartolome said at a press briefing in Malacañang, portions of which were aired on dzBB radio. He added the bus marshals will be on duty 24/7, "for as long as there are buses plying the streets of Metro Manila." Bartolome added his office has also coordinated with security agencies on target hardening, including dialogues with security officers and managers. Sea marshals Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed undercover sea marshals to secure ships heading for Visayas and Mindanao. A report by dzBB's Carlo Mateo said the undercover marshals will come from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines' Metro Manila commands. Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said that while the uniformed sea marshals will continue doing their jobs, their undercover counterparts will mingle with passengers and gather intelligence information. The sea marshals – armed six-member teams with Navy, Coast Guard and police operatives – were first deployed in 2004 after an explosion aboard a SuperFerry vessel. Prayers for 'swift justice' A senior Catholic Church official is offering prayers for speedy justice for victims of a bus blast that killed at least five people in Makati City Tuesday. “It is the duty of the authorit(ies) and the government officials to get the perpetrators and help the victims," Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said on Church-run Radio Veritas, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site Friday. Rosales said the archdiocese would also lead in praying for the casualties of the incident which he described as “inhumane." He also called on the faithful to join families, relatives and friends of the victims of the bomb attack in their moments of grief. The prelate said the Church will always denounce such acts as it violates one of the fundamental laws of God, which is “thou shall not kill." “Their language is different. Their way is wrong… inhuman! It’s useless," he said. Rosales said the perpetrators should have just used other avenues if they want to send any message instead of using violence. “We want a country with responsible citizens and against violence… who don’t kill people," he said. Makati mourns Meanwhile, the Makati City government scheduled a memorial service for the five bus bombing fatalities – plus at least 10 workers who died in a construction accident in the city Thursday – at a "Day of Mourning" at 2 p.m. Friday. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said the 10 workers will be remembered along with the five fatalities of a bus bombing in the city three days earlier. "Puwede na rin natin isama yan (ang mga construction workers) kasi nakakalungkot ang pangyayari kahapon (We can include the construction workers in the memorial because they are among the victims of recent tragedies in the city)," Binay said in an interview on dzBB radio. The city government originally scheduled the day of mourning to mark the deaths of five people in the bombing of a Newman Gold Liner bus. "Half-mast ang bandila ngayong araw na ito ... Tayo ay mag-o-offer ng bulaklak sa mga naging biktima (Philippine flags in public buildings in the city will be at half-mast today ... We will offer flowers in memory of the dead)," he said. On Wednesday, Binay asked President Aquino for the immediate deployment of augmentation forces from the military and the police’s elite Special Action Force, and called for a day of mourning following the bus blast. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV