IEDS MADE FROM FIRECRACKERS, GASOLINE BOTTLES
The string of bizarre events that seems to have started
after President Aquino indicated his leaning toward charter change (cha-cha) to
remove the one-term limit on the presidency and to clip the powers of the
Supreme Court took an even absurd twist yesterday after the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) said that its agents arrested four people supposedly in a
car bomb attempt at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(NAIA).
The Palace through a supposed slip of Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also floated the possibility of a no election scenario.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) and NBI Counter-Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD) said they have seized a van parked at
The supposed improvised explosive devices (IEDs)found in the van were crudely made out of firecrackers and bottles of gasoline.
A report from the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) quoted initial police reports saying that the suspects were arrested while their vehicle, a white Toyota Revo with plate number WMK129, was parked at the terminal’s parking area B.
The suspects were arrested while in the act of assembling the explosives inside their vehicle with the use of several gallons of gasoline and explosive materials, the report added.
Malacañang immediately seized on the issue saying that it
ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the NBI to submit an incident
report on the “foiled attempt to bomb the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(NAIA) 3.”
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said President Aquino has called for intense security measures to assure the safety of people in the airport.
“”[The] President has been informed of the incident at NAIA this morning. Authorities (DOJ and NBI) were directed to submit a report,” Coloma said.
Just last month, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) caught a woman carrying a gun who supposedly intends to assassinate President Aquino complaining about the widespread poverty under his term.
The supposed motives of the apprehended car bombing suspects were equally unusual which according to NBI agents were their disappointment over the government’s actions in confronting China over the maritime conflict.
The NBI supposedly obtained a manifesto showing the SM Mall of Asia, DMCI main office, the Chinese Embassy and buildings of Chinese firms in the country.
NBI agents said the crude “improvised explosive device” were made from locally manufactured firecrackers wrapped around bottles filled with gasoline.
Other sources said the suspects have links with international terrorist group Al-Qaeda.
The NBI said it received a tip about the planned attack about a month ago before being finally informed about the presence of the suspects at the NAIA 3 parking lot on Sunday evening.
The NBI said the suspects appeared to be targeting to bomb NAIA and a nearby mall.
Gen. Vicente Guerzon, MIAA senior assistant general manager, has placed the entire NAIA complex on full alert.
Guerzon immediately called for an emergency meeting with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Office for Transportation Security (OTS), and local PNP from Pasay and Parañaque cities.
The PNP-Aviation Security Group has secured the area covering NAIA.
Chief Supt. Christopher Laxa, head of the PNP Aviation Security Group, said that operations in all terminals remain normal though they have added security personnel to monitor airport activities.
“We gave instructions to maximize our foot patrols and police presence and we just upgraded our status to heightened alert,” said Laxa, explaining that the heightened alert status means at least 50 percent of its personnel are present to man their post.
He added that around 200 security officers manning all the airports and additional 80 more from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Laxa said that their vehicle inspection is only “visual” and that they cannot check the vehicles entering the airport thoroughly as it would take time and cause traffic buildup in the area.
But he said that if the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will require stricter measures at the airports, they will impose these as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the MIAA assured the public that all airport terminals are safe even with the incident.
“Airport security personnel continue to stay vigilant in their respective areas,” the MIAA added in a statement.
The MIAA said that it supports all efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect the lives and properties of the people from individuals or groups who want to harm and disturb the peace.
For his part, Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief of PNP public information office allayed fears of bomb attacks in the airport, saying the PNP has already implemented the necessary security protocols to ensure the safety of the public.
He described the incident as an isolated case and the PNP have already intensified the security in all airports.
Asked if they received intelligence reports about any bomb plot in airports, Sindac said they have monitored none.
“Our target-hardening measures are on-going not only in the airports but also in other places of convergence,” said Sindac.
Aside from airports, he said also subject to target-hardening measures are seaports, malls, transport terminals and other areas where the public usually converge.
The terminal, which for many years served only domestic flights but recently also began hosting international airlines, was operating as normal on Monday morning.
Terminal 3 Manager Octavio Lina said that parking B is a pay parking open to the public.
That security arrangements had been beefed up the past few months may partly account for the timely detection and disruption of the apparent terror plot.
“I was told that the NBI is engaged in entrapment operations and was able to follow the vehicle up to the airport parking area where they arrested the four suspects while assembling the IED,” Lina said.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/nbi-foiled-bombers-have-anti-sino-gripes
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