Arroyo irked by Trillanes’s claim that Palace was behind blast

President Gloria Macagal Arroyo was reportedly irked after she was asked by media on Saturday for her comment on reports that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV blamed Palace officials for Friday’s explosion at the Glorietta Mall in Makati City, which claimed nine lives and hurt over a hundred people, radio dzBB reported. The report said Mrs Arroyo frowned when asked by media during a command conference at Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to comment on Trillanes’ claim. “Just stick to the bombing incident," she said. Trillanes is one of President Arroyo’s most vocal critics. He led a mutiny in Makati City in 2003. On Friday, Trillanes tagged Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as possibly behind the explosion. He said the incident was similar to the so-called “Oplan Greenbase," in 2003, which allegedly included he bombing of the Davao international airport and the Sasa wharf. DzBB also reported that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who is also Arroyo’s political adviser, scored Trillanes for playing an “unfair game" of including the tragedy in a “laundry list" of issues against the administration. Puno said he “requested" the police to “interview" Trillanes to find if the latter has evidence to back his claim. “I requested the PNP to interview Sen. Trillanes to find out his evidence so we can pursue the investigation." He added this is a “very serious matter," and accusations like those should be investigated. “Let us not play around with lives of people here. There is fair game and unfair game, a tragedy that befalls people like this is not fair game. We implore the political opposition to please exclude this tragedy from their laundry list of issues they are going to fire at the administration," he said. “This is demeaning to our political system and the political environment. If they can remain on more statesmanlike level so this tragedy would not be exploited for their gains," he said. Puno also said the media should have “checked and double-checked" with Trillanes first before airing his claims. - GMANews.TV