There but for the grace of God, go we, must be the thought in many a person’s mind. David Llorito definitely had that passing, sobering, thought. jackson_nash recounts a mother’s concern and relief:
As soon as I get home I call my mom. She told me how she freaked out and how it gave her a headache. Her tone of voice was sounded so defeated yet relieved. It made me feel sad but it also reinforced that even though my mom doesn’t say it, she does really love me. I mean I didn’t doubt it, but it’s the little things we do for each other that shows how much we care.
Blogger ambonsamakati blogs about being in the vicinity (complete with snapshot of crowds); Adventures in the Temporary Autonomous Zone blogs about sirens and watching the action from a few blocks away. magentic_rose blogs about how her brother had a close call. Sunny Side Up! was there. So was uchihayukiko:
I was in bo’s cafe, teh exact opposite o f where the bo,b was placed. But it felt like the explosion was just above us. It was tha strong. It was my second grande cup of coffee that day.I drank my first at home, because I thought I have to be alert this day.
If I decided to drink coffee in starbcujs that day. I will be dea now.
If I wore skirt ad heels this day, I wouldn’t be able to run fast.
My intuition never failed me. Never since I was alive. And I am thanking god for it.I sent sms to people in my phone list. And called KR, because I know glorietta is his home too. And he is always in timezone, where I think the bomb was near.
I do not want to listen to the news now. What I saw was enough. Ambuklances everywhere, people lying in the streets near the ambulance, a man’s limp hands…limp and carried by someone from the ambulance.
White Lady recounts a friend’s experiences:
Miru was in netopia glorietta 2 printing something and after that,only 10 minutes after while walking in glorietta 4(in front of jollibee) he felt the impact of the explosion.It’s like something pushed him daw from the back and he saw the glass walls of jollibee shook. He was able to video pa the people screaming and running inside the mall to the nearest exit and outside he took pics of the damages.He even saw a dead body daw.
My Life… – Hayds also recounts her experiences:
Around 1:30pm we were saying that we need to give away all of our fliers before the next group comes in. Then I distinctly remember I was seating on the couch facing the Glorietta 2 side when I heard a big boom. Together with the big boom was an earth shattering like earthquake. Then in just a couple of seconds, I saw something fell from the ceiling. It was a big chunk but it looked like it didn’t weigh much. Then everybody started running as fast as they could towards our direction. I didn’t panic since as some of you might know, I was also in Glorietta during the Valentine’s Day bombing last February 14, 2005…
But today was different. I heard the explosion and I saw something that triggered why everybody started to panic. Everything I saw was not close enough for me to realize the urgency to get the heck out of the mall. I started to pack my things calmly and I was again trying to look for more details why the people were trying to get out of the mall but Jacy was really scared that she kept on calling for us and was in a hurry. We got out of Glorietta and went straight to Park Square 1. While everybody was outside and trying to figure out what happened, everybody just started running away again. This time we stayed at the Dusit Hotel. For about an hour of calling people we know, we just wanted to go home but Didith and Jacy were kind enough to make sure I’ve gotten my car in the parking lot of Glorietta 4 before we went our seperate ways. Unfortunately, nobody was allowed to go inside the mall nor the parking. We had to seat together with the hundreds of people around the area while the fire brigade, ambulance and media people were trying to check on what happened.
The most complete eyewitness acount I’ve come across is from angeliz105 in an online message group:
I have never expected myself to be an eyewitness to such a tragedy. Man staring blankly at his bloodied hand, women hysterically screaming, unconscious woman lying lifeless near the blast, frantic sirens and alarms, broken glass and debris everywhere…
I had just parked my car at Park Square 2, 3rd floor near the timezone entrance. After switched on my car’s alarm, exactly, a loud explosion was heard. A cloud of smoke was seen. I ran at the back of my car where the railings are and there it was, I am directly looking at it from where I stand.
My knees turned jelly and felt my whole body shaking. My brain felt numb. I can’t believe, that a few moments ago, barely 5 minutes have passed, I was there at the ground floor on my way to the parking lot.
I never noticed I was crying until two elderly chinese couple approached me and asked if I am okay. I was just telling them, ” No, look out there, there’s a dead woman…” I was ushered by the elderly man to sit on the hood of one of parked cars. I didn’t know how long I stayed there, coz the next moment, I am maneuvering my car out of the parking lot.
I called my brother, I was crying. I have no idea how I was able to drove out of that place and eventually got home when all the while I could see are the images of the tragedy. To stay calm is easier said than done.
I still don’t know whatever it was that exploded, all I know is, those images will haunt my memories like a movie, playing repeatedly… even in my dreams.
See websaytko.com who republishes a father’s account.
Blogger Sprclfrglstcxpialidotius! (who also has pictures) says gossip saved her:
While we were on our way back (from the hardware shop in Park Square), we noticed there was a crowd gathering outside Glorietta. We initially thought there was an on-going shoot or perhaps some actor/actress was around. We heard some people talking about a bomb going off in the center, near the fountain. Another man said it was on the second floor – the Subway resto…
But then some people were still entering Glorietta, and when we were about to cross the street to get in, a wave of screaming people suddenly came rushing out of the doors. This sent everyone else in a panic, and the crowd started running away as fast as they could.
I thought someone had a gun or something because some people had their hands over their heads. Kristel and I held hands and ran with the crowd… and then it happened.
Y’know those chase scenes in movies? When someone always has to fall right when they’re NOT supposed to? Yea, someone fell alright… I did! It’s quite hard to run for your life while in platform flip-flops!
I’m really grateful Kristel didn’t just let go of my hand and run…that’s a real friend for ya. She made sure people didn’t step on me 😀 Love yah, sis!
I must say, I’ve never felt so alive though. I could feel my heart threatening to explode through my chest, and my leg muscles trying to leap out of my skin as Kristel and I sprinted our way through the crowd.
just walk away was also there:
anyways tapos punta kami sa mei meeting place wala pang bus..so punta kaming gold crest..ayan na!nasa store kami tapos biglang mei narinig kaming malakas na sabog!tas mei nabasag!as in na feel namen ung lakas ng sabog!ung glass ng store parang mababasag!bumaba kami nina mariel para mag take cover tapos dapat lalabas na sila mariel at dzi sabi ko huwag muna kasi baka may sumabog pa..tapos ung tindera kinuha ang bag at nauna pa lumabas samin..so lumabas narin kami..ang scary kasi ang gulo na ng place ang daming tao na nag panic tas hinanap namen ung bus..kahit Wat a face na kami haha..
sa bus umiiyak na sila mariel and dzi ako..shock.di ako maiiyaK!as in wala lang di pa nag sink in sakin ung nangyari!tsaka naluluha ako kasi umiiyak sila mariel naawa ako..nung kinausap na lang kami sa bus dun na ako naiyak.tapos humagulgo ako nung naghug kami nina mar,dzi tsaka tita baby..grabe!nanghina ung knees ko ..grabe talaga!tas sa chapel..xbrang thankful ako kasi binigyan pa ako ng chance na maglaro pa tomorrow sa championship!haAy sobrang naapreciate ko adviser ko…tsaka narealize ko kung bumasag ung glass sa likod namen..cguro..hmmm..haAY..grabe talaga!2nd life?di ko toh makakalimutan!
(Loose translation: Anways afterwards we went to the vicinity of our meeting place but the bus hadn’t arrived. So we went to Goldcrest. Then it happened! We were in a store when suddenly we hard a strong explosion! Then something shattered! As in we felt the strength of the explosion! It seemed as if the glass of the store was going to shatter! Mariel and I descended to take cover and then Mariel intended to exit and I said, not yet because there might be another explosion. And then the saleslady took her bag and left the store even ahead of us. So we left as well. It was very scary because there was so much confusion and so many people panicked and we we looked for the bus, never mind however we must have looked haha… On the bus Mariel wept and I got dizzy. I was in such shock I couldn’t cry. Then I started tearing because Mariel was crying and I felt pity for her. When we were talked to on the bus that’s when I started to cry. Then I was overcome when Mar and I hugged, and Tita Baby too. It was terrible, my knees got weak. At the chapel I was so very thankful that I was given a chance to still play in tomorrow’s championship. And I really appreciate my adviser. And I also realized that if the glass had shattered behind us, well, probably, hmmm… A 2nd life? I won’t forget this!)
…My Life… has a smiliar account.
Another account is In My Pocket, this time, of someone who got there an hour after the explosion:
As I walked down Ayala Avenue and crossed toward the Makati Stock Exchange, I was walking with a group of people that included a young couple and their daughter. The father was carrying the little girl and the couple tried their best to be calm around her. Then, as we reached the Stock Exchange, the father passed their daughter into the mother’s arms as he walked inside a bank. The little girl asked the mother something, to which she replied, “E diba may sumabog sa Glorietta? Hindi ba katabi natin yun? (Didn’t something explode in Glorietta? Weren’t we standing next to it?)” I took a closer look at them. They were carrying hardly anything, and the daughter was sock-footed and holding her sole shoe in her hand.
I had arrived at SM some time around 2:20pm. An MMDA truck and the ever-vigilant media (represented by ABS-CBN News) already were parked out front. The SOCO van arrived just as I was walking away from the scene, continuing on my way. They — and I — had only missed the explosion by an hour.
See Witnesses account: ‘People thrown like dolls by blast’ for more eyewitness accounts.
Disney Cute Land has pictures of the area and the damage (Interior photos from ABS-CBN reproduced in look at this tangle of thorns). Azrael’s Merryland also has exterior photos. a round world for a square me has a photo of the interior of Glorietta filled with smoke. Horrible, horrible. However, Don Geronimo has calmer photos and criticizes media for portraying the situation is worse than it is.
And because the political situation is tense, notes from the peanut gallery expresses a suspicion that can only gather steam unless the authorities make an effort to remain sober and calm. For now, ksolaris points out one reason a gas explosion is the main theory right now:
They’re still investigating the cause, and I’m wondering if it’s a busted LPG tank, since I do remember that some time earlier this year, one of the restaurants inside the mall caught fire. They were able to quickly put out the flames that time, though, and only part of the restaurant’s ceiling got burned. The restaurant was back in business after about a week.
A spokesman from Ayala Land says it doesn’t appear the explosion emanated from any restaurants. A shaky-sounding policeman says there was a strong smell of gunpowder in the blast area, and says there was no smell of gas. Blogger bubble hearth has an eyewitness insisting he smelled gunpowder, too, “just like New Year”:
although ben insists he smelled pulbura when he went near the smoke. “para daw new year”
Tony Velasquez pointed out that the initial smells are important in investigating the cause of blasts. The NCR police chief has announced Metro Manila is on red alert.
(A blogger, Public Static, doesn’t want to dismiss the LPG explosion theory and explains why, but then says, basically, the reasoning all b.s.)
This is a time when engineers, architects, and other experts can help weigh in and contribute to a sober analysis of the event. The photographs of the damage are so chilling (see link above), and the damage so extensive, that unless the experts weigh in, public hysteria could run rampant.
Online media sites are constantly updating. As of this posting, the news is: 4 dead, over 40 hurt in Makati mall explosion (ABS-CBN); Blast hits Makati’s Glorietta Mall: 3 killed, says report (Inquirer); Makati mall blast kills 3; top cop says not LPG but ‘a bomb’(GMA).
On TV, a spokesman from the National Disaster Coordinating Council, quoting the Red Cross, says the number of fatalities has reached 6, with 70 wounded. Latest update is that police suspicions have shifted to a bomb being the cause of the explosion: ‘Bomb likely’ in Makati mall blast–Razon.
The PNP spokesman on ANC (4:12 pm) says they have to consider if this was a bombing by Muslim extremists. Said NICA reports and other intel had warned of activity after Ramadan ended.
Personally, at this point, finger-pointing won’t help anything. The priority right now remains aiding the wounded and securing the area. Then an investigation can proceed and the public can judge if the investigation raises instead of settling questions. There are simply too many groups that could benefit, politically, from a terror bombing. Finding out what kind of bombing took place, could help narrow down the potential culprits.
4:58 pm Ayala Land has issued a statement saying the blast seems to have originated from outside, not inside, Glorietta 2. Bertie Lim of Makati Business Club dispels text message which quotes him as having blamed the Palace; he says he never said such a thing and that businessmen believe the President needs to get to the bottom of things.
5:31 A blogger who works at an emergency room, gives an eyewitness account of what it was like to be working as the casualties were brought in, See zalveen-ice’s Site:
I was eating lunch when nag aanounce na for the trauma team sa ER. Last time I heard this was nung nag bomb sa MRT nung valentines 3 years ago ata. So I thought baka may vehicular accident na massive. I was wrong…. Sobrang dami tao sa ER blast injuries. Initial reports sabi may LPG leak daw sa Luk Yuen at sumabog yun. Well tha’ts pure speculation. In my humble opinion di ito gas leak masyado madami nasaktan at napakalaki ng area nung blast. Bomb to sa palagay ko. Well during y stay sa ER dami shrapnel injuries yun mga debris ng cement acted like shrapnels nung sumabog. Kawawa innocent people. May dead on arrival, meron din namatay sa harapan ko wasak yun ribs. For a while it gave me goosebumps. I know sanay ako makakita ng dugo sa mga accidents pero iba.
(loose translation: I was eating lunch when the announcement came for the trauma team to go to the emergency room. Last time I heard this was when the MRT was bombed on Valentine’s Day three years go, I think. So I thought there might’ve been a massive vehicular accident. I was wrong… Too many people in the emergency room with blast injuries. Initial reports said there was an LPG leak at Luk Yuen and that it caused the explosion. Well, that’s pure speculation. In my humble opinion it wasn’t a gas leak, too many people were hurt and the area of the blast was too large. It was a bomb, I think. Well during my stay at the emergency room, very many shrapnel injuries the debris from the cement acted like shrapnel when the explosion took place. Poor innocent people. There was someone dead on arrival, there was someone who died in front of me with shattered ribs. For a while it gave me goosebumps. I know I’m used to seeing blood in accident victims but this was different.)
The blogger then concludes.
I couldn’t take pictures kawawa talga and unethical din pero kung nakita nyo magagalit talaga kayo dun sa gumawa.
(loose translation: I couldn’t take pictures, I really pity them and it’s unethical but if you saw what I saw, you would be furious at the perpetrators).
More later.
5:54 pm A very angry Sec. Norberto Gonzalez said that if the bombing wasn’t accompanied by demands, it can’t be covered by the Human Security Act. Gonzalez very irritated over comments criticizing the Palace. Says the event does not justify emergency powers for the President.
6:04 pm Maria Ressa says the timing of the blast is within the “bombing season.” Last year was the only year JI hadn’t conducted a bombing within this season. The blast is strong she said, the radius is large, the strongest probably that’s taken place in the country, she says. No burn marks either, if you look at interior damage photos, so this indicates expertise and training, and there are only two umbrella groups with this capacity: JI and law enforcement agencies. It’s interesting she says, in this context, plus recent Australia warning and PNP warnings of Mindanao. She says she’s seen JI plots to bomb Glorietta but they were made in 2002-2003. She says people have to wait for the investigation and that what she’s discussing is putting the blast in the perspective of past events. This is blast impact, “pure wave,” she says. She says sources say it was a bomb, and that C-4 explosive was involved.
7:54 pm Per TV news report, Red Cross says there may still be bodies buried in the rubble. Number of casualties (dead and wounded) has passed the 100 person mark.
8:01 pm The President, dressed soberly in black, addresses the nation. Says it is likely it was a bomb. Issues warning against using the bombing for political motivates. Appeals for country to unite. Asks public to cooperate in increased security measures. Keep abreast of breaking news at Glorietta Blast special section of Inquirer.net.
tonyo links to raw video from an eyewitness.
tagabukid :
Dr. D,
that exactly was my thought yesterday in my post at 10:20pm.
nabasa siguro niya ang press release ni trillanes.
kawawa naman ang pinoy. nasa pagitan ng pare-parehong ambisyoso.
i am not confusing it. even before Iraq. or would you argue that everyone was hanky-panky united after it?
united in what? in going into Afghanistan? even americans themselves cautioned agst acting hastily. many called for investigations. they were met with White House stonewalling. and told that SWIFT ACTION is what is needed.
you think fracture only happened after Iraq. again, you are mistaken.
My view:everybody is a suspect at the moment.But who stands to gain the most?that’s the most intriguing question.
coalition of the willing only in Iraq? and what were sent into Afghanistan, only american soldiers? you see, the problem with labeling is they get stuck in people’s “malleable” minds. you forget that in Afghanistan, there were many who were “willing” in the coalition. nonetheless, it was still a coalition. with UN backing to boot.
and that is not a coalition of the willing? what would that be? a coalition of the unwilling even before Iraq? but i thought you said the whole world was united?
here’s an analogy for you:
you saying the whole world was united after 9/11 is like saying the entire Filipino nation was united after EDSA 2. and what were the Erap loyalists? illegal aliens?
you confuse ALL, with those of opinions like yours. let me wake you up to the truth, Dina. you are not alone.
devil,
let us make it simple. how many nations are against the war with afghanistan? what was the % of americans supporting that war?
Dr.D, I guess that is the most important point. By knowing the type of bomb used in this bombing, we could narrow down the choices. But, again it takes time to get the exact composition of the bomb since they have to collect all the residual materials from the ground zero.But, It’s definitely not LPG. By now, they might know already some mixture of the bomb. What we could see is that the type of explosion is likely the one from C-4 (no fire, inside the building,and huge damage and powerful).
Well, they might and sometimes they must hide some important information for investigation purpose.
Flashback:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=91926
(UPDATE) Military agent tagged in Zambo bombing
By ANGELO GUTIERREZ
abs-cbnNEWS.com
A police official on Tuesday said a military intelligence agent masterminded the August 21 bombing of Plaza Pershing in Zamboanga City that injured at least 20 people.
Senior Superintendent Manuel Barcena, Zamboanga City police chief, said the man who provided the improvised explosive device to the bombers is a member of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Military Intelligence Group 9 based in Zamboanga province.
Barcena declined to name the military agent. He said the suspect is a known “murderer” in Zamboanga City.
He said the identity of the agent was revealed to them by one of three suspects arrested for the bombing. “One of the suspects said [the military agent] was the one who provided the bomb,” Barcena told abs-cbnNEWS.com.
One of the arrested suspects was identified by the police as Marjunie Ammala. He was arrested after being positively identified by witnesses.
The suspects, who were arrested near the city’s port area on August 31, will be presented during a press conference on Tuesday.
Barcena said the Zamboanga City Police Office is now coordinating with the military to confirm the agent’s involvement in the bombing.
He said the involvement of a military agent in the bombing “does not mean it was sanctioned by the military.”
Police said the bomb was placed under a concrete bench at the plaza which was named after General John “Black Jack” Pershing who led US troops fighting the Muslims in Zamboanga and Jolo in 1899.
The bombing took place more than 24 hours after President Arroyo visited the city for a major command conference with military commanders in Mindanao.
The military earlier said al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf extremists might have been responsible for the bombing to divert the military’s attention from offensives against the bandits on Basilan island.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view_article.php?article_id=95597
Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
from here: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=96394
Why do the police investigators want to remain anonymous in their revelation that traces of C4 was found at the site? Are they afraid that their words might implicate the military? Do they know something that might prove to be damaging to their superiors? Hindi ba dapat, as investigators, they should be “proud” pa nga that they’re coming close to pinning down the perpetrators of the crime, and would likely won’t mind being mentioned in the media as the one who discovered the components of the bomb?
Subconscious, my dear Watson.
You guys are all barking up the wrong tree. Ask any self-respecting fireman and he will immediately tell you that faulty wiring’s the culprit….
Hi mlq3,
no new post yet? i heard there was an emergency meeting in malacanang last night, any insider info? cant wait for today’s thread. thanks.
“faulty wiring’s the culprit!Ecrider”
LOL.
faulty wiring in somebody’s demented mind!
Dina, how kind of you. let me be kinder and make it simpler even simpletons will get it.
frankly idk the exact figures, and even if that was a huge 99%, that still left 1%. but i guess people like you who like to discount the minority as inconsequential doesn’t count them. what after all is 1% in a population of millions, right?
and they all jumped willy-nilly into it eh? All, is not most. Fully, is not, fractiously. which is what you’re doing. fractions. or are percentages not fractions? let me check w/my math prof and get back to u on that.
know what? i’ll cancel that and let you tell me yourself.
That’s why the call for an impartial investigation must be intensified. Somebody in the Senate must call for foreign forensic and bomb experts to do it, we cannot trust the PNP.
I believe that there are still decent and conscientious officers in the police and the military, pero natatakot lang na mabweltahan sigurado kasi alam nila what their superiors are capable of doing. Unfortunately for us, conscientious lang at hindi courageous, mga walang betlog.
uh…..should be through OFFICIAL press release? isn’t it customary?
Thanks Augustine. I’m just astonished by Razon’s statements. Why issue a denial only, when he could’ve added, “…but we’re not counting out the possibility that C4 was indeed used here.”
Just in: C4 bomb component used in Glorietta blast – PNP chemist (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/65209/C4-bomb-component-used-in-Glorietta-blast—PNP-chemist).
the complete acct can be found here:
http://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/2006/08/20/ninoy-speaking-august-23-1986/
Culture of impunity
The prevailing feeling within the GMA administration is that they “can get away with anything” by simply issuing denials, making cover-ups or creating distractions ( example: the new “Cha-Cha” move) or distortions by the usual spin doctors OR
Diversions!
devil,
whatever. fully. 100%. .001%
it’s a no-brainer. it’s utopian to think 100%
iraq is not 9/11.
that’s all.
yes, devil, i know you’re not a simpleton.
Possibilites:
1. extortion – Ayala not headed extortion demands from extortionist , hence , his Makati Mall has been bombed
2. terrorist – which usually is followed by their acceptance of the deed and their explanation for doing so.
3. mindanao conflict – Abu wants to divert attention to Metro Manila to relieve pressure in Sulu.
4. present political turmoil – divert attention to above items and forget turmoil and unite Filipinos.
A collective wound needs a collective action
With nine people dead and more than a hundred injured, we have another dark day in our history. We can always speculate on who the perpetrators are but our speculation may most likely be tainted by our personal biases. And as we speculate, the more we magnify the rift that prevails in our land.
http://iniibigkoangpilipinas.blogspot.com/2007/10/collective-wound-needs-collective.html
Dina, but it is now, aint it?
pity can’t say the same abt others.
Carlos:
1) extortion:I doubt it;easier to do it in isolated cell site of ayala’s telecom co.
2)terrorist:have they proudly announced and claimed ownership of their deed?
3)mindanao conflict:possible
4)present political turmoil:let’s wait first for the spin doctors to blame the opposition;then I will know who did it!
“MANILA, Philippines–Military explosives may have been used in a huge bomb blast at a shopping mall in the Makati financial district that left nine dead and 113 injured, police said Saturday.
Evidence collected from the Glorietta mall blast site indicates that the bomb “contained RDX, the main chemical component of C4,” the police said in a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In the Philippines, C4 explosive is only used by the military.INQUIRER”
who did it?
Filipinos are a bunch of politico minded people always blaming the other side of the political divide instead of focusing on the event at hand. No wonder the country never go forward at all whether in economic, intelectual, or moral stature. When will the Filipinos wake to reality and be realistic truely. What a sad state of country we have. Amen
spent most of last evening making sure that all the people i know were alright. i hope all of your loved ones are safe too.
equalizer:
not now sir, please.
sad, isn’t it?
RDX is the main component in C-4. RDX was traced also in Bali and Jakarta Bombing. But They did not use C-4 there. They mixed RDX with TNT and other chemical components (fertilizers etc).They did the bombing from outside with delivery van, packed with more than 70Kgs assembled chemical explosive in order to get huge explosion. It should be from outside considering the weight of the explosive.
The one in Glorietta-2 is likely C-4, since it was inside the building. You just need some kilograms of C-4 to blow the building the way they did at Glorietta-2. I believe the bomb was inside the building, based on the witness’ story (a taxi driver) who said that his 2 female passengers were blown out and hit his taxi and killed instantly when they were going inside the entrance of Glorietta-2
The problem here is, if the police say its C-4, then the military could be in big trouble. Speaking about military,we could not be sure of which part of the military is involved here? pro-government? anti-government? disgruntled soldiers? or some could say that it might be terrorists or Muslim fundamentalist who get the C-4 from military (AFP) source.
But still, PNP obviously have some names to investigate. I think it would be a good start, as long as they dont want to hide anything there.
“President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday ordered authorities to link up with Church leaders in tracking down the perpetrators of Friday’s explosion at the Glorietta mall in Makati City, which claimed the lives of at least nine people, and hurt over a hundred others.
“Coordinate and cooperate with Church leaders…to identify the perpetrators (of the bombing),” Mrs Arroyo told authorities during a briefing on the bombing incident at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.”-GMANews.tv (10/20/2007 | 12:28 PM)
I don’t understand GMA’s statement above. Is this not a police matter? Why “coordinate and cooperate with Church leaders…to identify the perpetrators (of the bombing)”?
at least there are leads.
1. C- 4, only used by the military but other sectors have the capabilityto porucre it,
2. gloria asking Chruch for help in identfying the perpetrators,
3. Senator Trillanes linking the gov’t,
4. unusual silence by the JI and Abu Sayyaf, no suspect apprhended yet unlike in Mindanao bombings wherei hours after suspectes are presented.
These are leads wherein people can make conclusions.
Whoever was responsible for yesterdays bombing made one thing very clear. They raised the level of deadly violence they are willing to use.
The shock waves that tore through concrete is evidence of the powerful improvised explosive devise used. The more powerful the device, the more sophisticated the logistics and skills behind it requires.
For those with loved ones and relatives who died and were wounded this becomes a personal tragedy. For the the rest of the country and the government this becomes a statistic and a historical brand.
Extremists from whatever side unfortunately have trained men who make their living managing this kind of violence. They go through their business of death and destruction by the simple dehumanizing process of labeling humans as simply collateral damage subordinate to their distorted and debased sense of idealism.
The other day 135 people were blown to bits in Karachi. Yesterday men brought the scourge of unrestrained violence to a place where I used to bring my kids for walks and snacks.
Violence against non-combatants in this new age of asymmetrical warfare has become not a mere tactic but a strategic weapon of political discourse.
The United States used it to good effect in many parts of the world in their rise to the top and now extremists Muslims are using it to make their political statement around the world.
It remains to be seen if the fascists and neo-fascists in this country have entered into this style of political discourse. They have already started the brazen cold blooded killings over the past few years. The state frozen by incompetence and acquiescence.
We allow small acts of evil as long as it is far from affecting us and it starts to have a life of its own and this apathy allows it to come right to our doorstep.
I suppose the Palace will distribute small shopping bags with cash to the victims families and survivors in another photo-op.
qwert,
As you probably already know, CBCP is coming close to making a “Gloria Resign” stand amidst all the scandals (three of their bishops have already taken that stand).
True to her form, she’s using the incident to make a “let’s move on, let’s unite” call, however bizarre that call may sound in the context of what just happened.
“Coordinate and cooperate with Church leaders…to identify the perpetrators (of the bombing),†Mrs Arroyo told authorities during a briefing on the bombing incident at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.â€Â-GMANews.tv (10/20/2007 | 12:28 PM)
Am I missing something here? Ano naman kinalaman ng Church leaders? O nagpapalakas lang ng papel?
Dr.D,
It beats me!
tess: i gave up a long time ago trying to decipher her mind
MADNESS
Inquirer Editorial:
“The old saying could be true: Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. With so much madness sprouting all over Malacañang, it looks as if the gods have been busy planting the seeds of its destruction.”
State of Denial in the Philippines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhAkfnoZOE&mode=related&search=inquirer.net%20eleksyon%202007%20hermogenes%20esperon%20spratlys%20philippines%20joel%20guinto
We should instead act, both spiritually and physically. We are delving too much in conspiracy theories, we end up doing nothing, we are not being ‘fruitful’ for our Nation’s future.
I am not saying discussing it, analyzing it, is bad, just that, let’s put some line and instead talk about “next steps”, “goals”, “solutions”. Filipinos are most of the time stuck with the “Hypothesis” phase, can we move on to the next phases?
These pointing fingers in the policital space will never end, us – the People of this Nation, are the one suffering, and they are dragging us with their ‘blaming sessions’. Granted, there’s a conspiracy, the government did planted that bomb, but also granted, we will never know it. So what now? We’ll keep living everyday trying to solve something that was hidden well and revolve around it forever?
The truth will come in its due time, when it does, we need to make sure that we are a Nation capable of handling such (grave) truths. Maybe the truth chose not to reveal itself today because it will only cause more problems for our country – another People Power or perhaps Martial Law or worst, a Civil War? We won’t be able to handle the truth today.
One day our Nation (and Politics) will be matured enough to handle such Truths. But Truth will not wait for us to mature as a Nation, we should instead prepare for it, lest we want our country to collapse.
Just my opinion.
tess: i gave up a long time ago trying to decipher her mind
she cunning, she likes to be three step ahead of everybody… but it looks like everything is backfiring to her.
JC, thanks for summarizing the make like an ostrich school of thought. The question is, can we really grow up as a people if we avert our gaze from the truth because we cannot handle it?
“she cunning, she likes to be three step ahead of everybody…Tess”
she can’t fool ALL the PEOPLE ALL the TIME!
It is sad that the first reaction of most people I’ve talked with is that the glorietta bombing was the handiwork of our government to create a diversion from its current scandals. But, I cannot blame people who suspect some foul play from the government.
This government has lost so much credibility and faith that most people include it from their list of the usual suspects. If this government is only trustworthy and loved by the people, they would find it absurd to even suggest that the very same government who is supposed to protect them will do such a dastardly act. With all the lying, stealing and cheating by this government, most people would be least surprised, if it is revealed in the end, that this government has something to do with the bombing. Unfortunately such “plausible possibility†is quite high.
@cvj. It’s not averting our gaze from the truth. The truth is not clear. We can not call fragmented “supposedly” truths as “truths”. Right now what is happening is we are all discussing about who did it, who is right, who is telling the (half-)truth, and so on.
And when the whole truth comes out, can we really handle it? Can our country afford another People Power (if the Truth is against the Administration)? How will the ‘masa’ react if the Truth is against the Opposition?
Let’s pick-up what we can pick-up. It is better to bring small pieces with us that we are sure to be the truth, than carry a huge block of Truth that can shake this Nation (and what was achieved so far – like good economy).
Not all times we should try to reveal the Truth. Truth is truth, if it wants to reveal itself, it will in its own time. It can benefit you and me, or it may further endanger us all.
People say “hindi ko kaya”, but in reality “kaya naman”. Why? We only experience things we can carry, things we can handle. If our country was thrown something beyond our capabilities and limitations, would we still be here? We’re still here because truth only gives us what we can take.
So, we should move on to the next phases. Take what we can take, pick-up those little pieces. We can grow from there, instead of being stagnant because we are waiting “for the whole truth”. It is better to grow slowly but surely than to grow overnight and we don’t know what to do or how to react to it.
^_^
equalizer,
The opposition should start thinking like her. the past weeks have not been good to her… the bombing of glorietta which was very unfurtunate, she will use it to appeal for unity etc… she’s capable of anything…
JC, i’m amazed at how far the rationale for let’s move on has evolved. Last year, it was about Gloria Arroyo’s good governance. Now, we’re reduced to accepting that even if her government was complicit in the bombings, we should still move on because we cannot handle the truth. I wonder what the reason will be this time next year.
ito po ang malungkot sa mga elected officials natin, pera lang po ang katapat nila. it’s disgusting!
Please, insert the word hypothetically between ‘if’ and ‘her’ above.
dinapinoy…
And please tell me how the glorietta attacks in any way will help make arroyo “go away”? after people falsely accused erap of plotting the lrt bombings, they won’t make that same mistake again.
“gloria has to go?” heh. are you not the same pro-arroyo troll sa blog ni ellen also named dinapinoy?
bencard: “john, estrada himself may not have the intellectual capacity to concoct such a conspiracy but that cannot be said about the diabolical “brains†around him. all he has to do is show the dough (of which i doubt he is lacking) and these “professionals†can work wonders in terms of death and destruction.”
that’s exactly what alex magno and the rest of his gang said about erap and the Rizal Day Bombing. he doesn’t have the brains, but the people around him do have it. Or that he has the money to order such killings.
And they were wrong. But it didn’t matter because they used this baseless accusations to help convince the middle class to topple estrada, which you and your like-minded arroyo sycophants condoned.
anything is possible bencard. in erap’s case though, it’s possible yes, but not probable.
Estrada is gambling with lives for Power
By Dona Pazzibugan and Andrea Trinidad-Echavez
Inquirer News Service
“I accuse as the mastermind of these bombings and terrorist attacks the real Jose Velarde,” said Fr. Joe Dizon, spokesperson of the Estrada Resign Movement, in a Mass which turned into an indignation rally at the Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola).
Prosecutors in the impeachment trial have alleged that Mr. Estrada is the Jose Velarde who has a P1.2-billion account with Equitable PCI Bank.
“Only a cowardly and desperate man can do this. Someone who has the means, a P500-million to P1.2-billion bank account, the opportunity and the motive. That’s Jose Velarde,” Dizon said.
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buti pa sila fr. joe dizon, nakakapag-rally sa mendiola at the height of calls for erap’s resignation.
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JI never announced after they attacked the LRTs.