End speculations on blast – bishops

Two Catholic bishops called yesterday on authorities to immediately identify the bomber of Glorietta mall in Makati to quell rumors that the attack was a diversion to forestall calls for President Arroyo’s resignation.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez Jr. said it was unfair to accuse one side of perpetrating the attack when “it is possible that any of the sides could be responsible for this.”

“That is why it is important to know the truth so we won’t be kept in the dark and live in speculations,” Pabillo said in an interview in Filipino over Catholic Church-run Radyo Veritas.

“This is a serious matter that should not be simply ignored,” Iniguez said in a separate interview. “I hope authorities would look into this deeply and fairly.”

Pabillo said it is best to pray for the victims of the bombing and their families and for the government to finally come up with a solution to the serious problem of terrorism.

“We also appeal to the perpetrators and those who continue to threaten the country not to harm uninvolved people in whatever rage you have,” he said. “These are innocent people but they are the ones sufferings.”

The identity of those behind the bombing should be immediately known, Iniguez said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has already offered prayers and condolences to the victims and relatives of Friday’s terrorist attack.

“We express our condolences to the victims and their families who suffered from the explosion at the Glorietta mall in Makati City,” the CBCP said in a statement.

“We pray that such occurrence from whatever cause will not happen again.”

CBCP president Angel Lagdameo called on Filipinos to join in praying for the solution of the many crises facing the country today.

“(The) explosion diverts our concentration and adds up to our common national problems that are crying for satisfactory solution,” he said.

Glorietta mall in Makati was bombed Friday amid growing calls for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo after the Catholic Church declared that the government under her administration was “morally bankrupt.”

A person who claimed to be spokesman for the Rajah Sulayman Movement reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.   

Meanwhile, the anti-terrorism council advised yesterday Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Panfilo Lacson to stop issuing statements about the alleged involvement of the administration in the Glorietta bombing if they could not present evidence.

In an interview, lawyer Ricardo Blancaflor, anti-terrorism council spokesman, dared Trillanes and Lacson to present proof because without it their claims that the Glorietta bombing was part of “Oplan Greenbase” were baseless.

“Whenever you talk, you must present proof,” he said.

“Trillanes should come up with proof of his claims about the alleged Oplan Greenbase. We have to help each other in this incident, instead of passing the blame on the government for political ends.”

All the statements of Trillanes and Lacson are mere speculations, he added.

Trillanes said “Oplan Greenbase” was intended to justify the granting of emergency powers to Mrs. Arroyo.

On the other hand, Lacson told radio station dzBB that only the government has the capability and motive to create panic among the people.

The Glorietta terrorist attack was a result of failure of intelligence in the part of the government, he added. -  with Jose Rodel Clapano