However, San Juan police chief, Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, was quick to deny that the bomb threat could be part of harassment operations by certain groups against the former President and his family.
"I don’t think that the bomb people behind the scare were targetting the Estrada family. It was made by an amateur, probably the work of a drug addict, whose prime motive was to cause panic," said Cruz.
Cruz dispatched PO3 Hernan Cruz, of the local police bomb disposal unit to retrieve the bomb discovered by Rodrigo Llagas, 42, a church marshal, on top of a toilet bowl inside the church’s toilet. Llagas reported his find to the church bookkeeper, Susan David, 39, who called up the police.
So as not to alarm hundreds of parishioners, PO3 Cruz, using a hook and line, discreetly pulled the tightly wrapped bomb to an open area of the church’s compound. However, upon inspection, the small box contained a rock and a thread spoolwrapped in masking tape with a switch on top.
"There was a little fuss when I took out the hoax bomb, so as not to alarm the parishioners. Had there been panic, the pranksters would have succeeded," said PO3 Cruz.
The Pinaglabanan Church, is considered a historical landmark and one of the many churches frequented by former President Estrada and his family.
The two other churches were the Mary the Queen Church and Immaculate Concepcion Church, both in Greenhills.
The last time the deposed President and his family attended Mass at the Pinaglabanan Church was during the celebration of the Battle of Pinaglabanan, months back.
Cruz explained that last Sunday’s incident had nothing to do with the Estradas. Earlier, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada confirmed that they have been receiving nasty text messages and threats on their cellular and landline phones. – Non Alquitran