Same group eyed in Metro Manila bombings

MANILA, Philippines - Government bomb experts are gathering evidence linking the suspects in three previous bomb attacks in Metro Manila to the bus bombing in Makati City on Jan. 25, it was learned yesterday.

Police and military bomb experts are digging into their records for the possible link following revelation that traces of pentaerythritol tetranite or PETN were found in the three bomb cases.

“We are profiling the suspects in the three explosive-related incidents to determine whether the suspects have something to do with the bus bombing in Makati City,” said a Star source.

The bus bombing in Makati City on Jan. 25 left five people dead and 13 others injured. As of yesterday, investigators from Task Force Goldliner have not pinpointed as yet the group behind the blast, except that forensic examination of evidence showed traces of PETN.

PETN is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 141 degree Celsius and found mainly in detonating cord. “It is a stable explosive if kept free from acid, but becomes more sensitive with the presence of grit or dust,” the source said.

The use of PETN, he said, is not designed as main charge but as a booster charge used to function another form of explosive material.

The Star source said a flat iron or cast metal loaded with PETN powder extracted from detonating cords, were used in the past three explosive-related incidents. One of the bombs exploded near the bus terminal of the Philippine Rabbit Bus Co. located in the corner of Recto and Alvarez Streets in Manila while the two others were recovered in the skating rink inside the Rizal Park and at a plant garden of the Department of Finance (DOF).

Time-activated

The source pointed out that the devices used in the three bombings were time-activated.

Aside from PETN and traces of TNT found during forensic examination, the primary evidence retrieved in the explosion site were 40 percent metal fragments from 81 mm mortar; disintegrated battery, its terminal and leg wire; damaged parts of a sliding switch; parts of a carbon box and blue plastic bag and two pieces of unidentified small spring.

The Star source said that the bomb was time activated because of the discovery of parts of a timing device in the explosion site.

“We recovered five cellular phones in the blast site but they were all identified and claimed by the close relatives of the five people who were killed,” said The Star source.

But a member of the Task Force Goldliner said there is a totally-wrecked sixth cellphone recovered in the site which was not identified by the victims’ relatives. “It could be the triggering mechanism since no timer was recovered in the area,” he said.

Earlier, police and military investigators narrowed down to three Muslim extremist groups – Abu Sayyaf, Rajah Solaiman Movement and Special Operations Group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – as behind the bus bombing.

The government offered a P3 million reward for information leading to the suspects in the bombing. A police artist also prepared cartographic sketches of two persons who could have planted the bomb on the 6th row of the bus.

But as of yesterday, nobody come forward as yet to offer solid information on the bombers.

However, the Intelligence Group (IG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed For­ces of the Philippines (ISAFP) are feverishly working on the case, with the help of the Australian government.

The Star source said a study of the physical evidence showed that the bomb was altered and the explosives may be replaced by PETN extracted from a detonating cord.

The bomb was placed in a horizontal direction under the seat as evidenced by the downward pressure of the blast that created a crater in the vehicle’s floor.

“This also explains why most of the victims sustained fragments at the lower extremities of their bodies,” the source said.