5 groups eyed in Metro bomb scare

At least five groups, including supporters of disgraced former President Joseph Estrada and jailed rebel leader Nur Misuari, may be behind the bomb scares in Metro Manila and other cities in Mindanao last week, according to a police intelligence report.

This developed as military explosives experts defused another bomb that was planted at the regional office of the Department of Education in Cotabato City yesterday.

Police also defused a bomb package along the expressway in Carmona, Cavi-te while another bomb was reportedly found under a bridge in Davao City on Sunday.

The three bombs were the latest in a series of scares which began last week. The obscure Indigenous People’s Federalist State Army (IPFSA) claimed responsibility for planting the bombs in various places in Metro Manila last week.

In manifestos found with the bombs, which police said were genuine but not rigged to explode, the IPFSA demanded the creation of federal states for indigenous peoples, Muslims and Christians.

In an interview with television network ABS-CBN, a spokesman for the IPFSA, who identified himself as "Cedrev" said they were not trying to scare people and the bombs they planted in Metro Manila last week were a "warning."

Cedrev said that his group, which allegedly includes members of 110 tribal groups, planted the bombs on its own and denied they had links with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) or Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), both separatist groups.

The authorities have publicly dismissed the IPFSA as a "crackpot" group or possibly a front for four other genuine threat groups.

The five-page police intelligence report, dated March 21, identified the four other groups as the MNLF, MILF, People’s Patriotic Movement (PPM) and the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM).

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also sees the MILF, which is pursuing peace talks with the government, as the real group behind IPFSA.

The report described the IPFSA as an "anti-terrorist group, composed mostly of lumads (natives), Christians and Muslims in Region 12. It is the identity of the Moro people for unity and solidarity in order to achieve a federal state in Mindanao."

During the MNLF’s 32nd anniversary last March 18, IPFSA manifestos were seen during the celebration and the group is suspected of having been orchestrated by MNLF spokesman Absalon Cervesa and MNLF official Pendi Colano.

"In relation to this, the planting of the bombs and explosives by the MNLF is being done in support to Misuari’s ongoing trial. This is an attempt by the MNLF to resurrect Misuari as a Muslim leader and force to reckon with," read the report.

However, the report also said groups associated with Estrada may also be involved.

The report said the PPM is led by a certain Dr. Emmanuel Yap, who is supposedly a known Estrada supporter and ally of Linda Montayre of the Philippine Consultative Assembly.

Yap’s group is believed to be linked to the RAM faction led by Sen. Gregorio Honasan and former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who were both charged for rebellion last year in connection with the May 1 riots by Estrada loyalists.

"RAM has previously issued a joint manifesto with PPM regarding ‘building a strong nation’ that established the strong relationship of the two organizations," the report said.

Also mentioned in the report was the pro-Estrada People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), led by fugitive Ronald Lumbao who is suspected of masterminding the May 1 riots last year.

The incidence of bomb scares have stepped up over the past week, the latest of which was the bomb found in the DepEd regional office inside the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ordnance experts said the bomb, made of a round of 60-mm. mortar and packed in a small box, and the manifestos were placed on steel bars outside the DepEd building.

The package was the sixth improvised bomb defused by the authorities since January.

Only last Thursday, bomb experts detonated two bombs made of live grenades, which were placed on top of a two-page manifesto from another obscure group calling itself Christian Nationalist Lumad Army, which opposes IPFSA’s call for a federal form of government.

Meanwhile, in Malacañang, President Arroyo assured that the police and military are already pursuing the perpetrators of the bomb scares.

She said the authorities already have "leads" on the bomb scares which, she said, were committed by "pranksters."

"We already have leads but it is not customary, until they get bedrock confirmation, to announce it outright," the President said during her weekly radio program "Panawagan ng Pangulo." "Our detectives are already looking for these pranksters."

Metro Manila police chief, Director Edgar Aglipay has ordered tighter security at bus stations and churches in Metro Manila ahead of the Easter holiday which begins Wednesday.

"Aside from public assistance centers and patrols in bus terminals, we directed our men to make sure churches are well secured," Aglipay said. - With reports from John Unson, Marichu Villanueva, Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude, Sandy Araneta