Filtered By: Topstories
News

Blast rocks Batasan complex; 1 dead, 3 solons among hurt


(Updated 9:30 p.m.) A loud explosion occurred at the south entrance lobby of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City at 8:07 p.m. Tuesday, radio dzBB reported. The report said a lawmaker's driver died and several others were hurt in the incident, including at least three congressmen. DzBB, quoting information from National Capital Region Police Office chief Geary Barias, said one Marcial Talvo, driver of Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, died in the blast. The explosion was heard to as far as Diliman area in Quezon City and the tremor was felt to as far as about two kilometers from the site, according to witnesses. The report also said Rep. Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and Ilagan were hurt in the incident, along with at least four others, mostly staff members. Teves and his two other staff members were brought to the New Era General Hospital on Commonwealth Avenue near Tandang Sora. The report said the three sustained injuries to their faces, hands and feet. Akbar was taken to the Far Eastern University Hospital in Fairview, Quezon City. The main gate of the Batasan complex was immediately closed to the public after the explosion. Firemen arrived at about 8:20 p.m. Authorities from the Quezon City Police Station 6, which is located just across from the Batasan complex, also arrived and cordoned off the area. The Quezon City government promptly sent its ambulances and rescue teams to the blast site. At 9:30 p.m., President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promptly ordered National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon to personally supervise the investigation on the incident, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a text message. President Arroyo asked Razon to "submit periodic reports as warranted." Loud explosion Rep. Joel Villanueva of the Citizen's Battle Against Corruption told dzBB that he was at the south lobby when he heard a "very loud explosion" at the premises of House of Representatives. He said he saw at least four people hurt, who were brought to the clinic inside the building. Villanueva said he heard the explosion minutes after the House session ended. Witnesses said they saw a Toyota Lite Ace van and another one or two vehicles burning. Villanueva said an unidentified woman staff member was in critical condition at the Malvar General Hospital. Another lawmaker interviewed by dzBB said the explosion came from a flower box near the steps of the south entrance lobby. Another dzBB report at about 8:30 p.m. said Rep. Ilagan and her driver were hurt in the blast, and were rushed to Malvar Hospital along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. The report said the information came from the public information officer of Gabriela. Barias later said the driver had died. Noel Albano, House deputy secretary general for media relations and public information, in an interview with dzBB said the explosion came from the ceiling of the south wing entrance. He said the ceiling was partly destroyed. Video footages of the blast showed the ceiling ripped. The debris fell on the Toyota Corolla car of Ronald Llamas of Akbayan party-list. Another dzBB report at about 8:55 p.m. said police officials led by Barias could not yet determine the kind of device that exploded in the area. The report said Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr arrived in the area and was seen talking to authorities. De Venecia condemned the incident, viewing it as a "terror attack on the House." De Venecia had gone home in Makati City when the blast occurred. Razon arrived at the blast site at around 9 p.m., along with Deputy Speaker for Visayas Raul del Mar. - GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT