Cops rule out extortion as motive behind Makati bus blast

Police on Thursday discounted extortion as a possible motive behind the bus bombing that killed at least five people in Makati City last January 25. In a radio interview, Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome likewise said they are still keeping their sights on at least three groups as the culprits behind the incident. "Initially, may possibilities na kino-consider dahan-dahan ine-eliminate ang angulong di applicable. Ang extortion na angulo dati, wala na yan (Initially we considered many angles but one by one, we are eliminating angles that turned out to be irrelevant. As of now, we have discounted extortion as a possible angle)," Bartolome told dwIZ radio. Bartolome hinted they may identify the culprits soon. "Although sa ngayon walang nagke-claim ng responsibility pero siguro sa lalong madaling panahon kaunti pa, matutukoy natin ito. Mas mahalaga kasi yung ebidensya talaga ang magamit natin dito," he said. (For now, no one has claimed responsibility. But give us a little more time and we will pinpoint the culprits. What is important is that we are gathering evidence to support our findings.) Bus blast At least five people were killed in the blast aboard a Newman Goldliner bus at the corner of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and Buendia Avenue in Makati City last Jan. 25. The incident prompted travel advisories from Australia and the United Kingdom, and was blamed for a series of bomb scares in Metro Manila. Hours after the bombing incident, President Benigno Aquino III sad terrorists could be behind the explosion. A day later, the President was cautious in pinpointing any group behind the blast. "At this time, we will not point to any particular group…. We’re not even sure that the label ‘terrorists’ on perpetrators is most appropriate," he said on Jan. 26. Three groups Bartolome said they are still zeroing in on at least three groups, but refused to name them for now. He would only cite the perpetrators’ use of an 81-mm mortar shell and a cell phone detonator in the Jan. 25 incident. "May tinitingnang mga grupo more or less tatlo ito na kino-consider pa rin. Ayaw namin magbigay ng specific, we want to be sure sino talaga sa grupo nila (We are looking at about three groups. We do not want to comment beyond this. We want to be sure we get the right group)," he said. In the meantime, Bartolome appealed anew to the public not to make prank bomb threats, saying it is sowing fear and distracting authorities. "Tigil-tigilan na nila yan, hindi maganda sa bansa natin yan (They should stop it. It is not doing the nation any good)," he said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV