Monday, July 1, 2013

Zambo police eye extortion behind bombing attempt

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1): Zambo police eye extortion behind bombing attempt

The police are eyeing extortion as most likely the motive behind Monday's bombing attempt of an edifice being occupied by a real estate firm in this southern port city.

Senior Insp. Arlan Delumpines, Criminal Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU) chief of the local police, said the bombing attempt came five days after the owner of the building has received letter demanding payment for protection money.

Delumpines withheld the identity of the building owner except in saying he is a known businessman in this city.

He did not also disclose how much is being demanded as well as the source of the handwritten extortion letter which was received last June 26.

The building, which is located at the junction of Nuñez Street and Camachille Drive, is being occupied by the Filinvest Development Corporation, a real estate firm.

The improvised bomb was discovered around 8 a.m. Monday at the second floor of the building by the security guard on duty, who reported his find to the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO).

The improvised bomb is classified as Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO)-type of explosive, according to ZCPO's Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) officer-in-charge Senior Police Officer 4 Wilfredo Fox.

Fox said a one-liter softdrink plastic bottle was packed with ammonium nitrate as the main charge with complete components like blasting cap, time fuse and nails as shrapnel.

He said the improvised bomb failed to explode since the time fuse was short to ignite the explosive's main charge although it was lighted.

The bomb was believed to have been tossed to the second floor of the building, according to Fox.

Investigation continues to ascertain the identity of the suspect behind the bombing attempt, Delumpines said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=539825

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