World | Philippines
Triple bomb scare raises alert level in Quezon City
Three bombs were found in suburban Quezon City over the last three days, raising fears of destabilisation a year before the elections, local papers said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 22:51 June 30, 2009
Manila: Three bombs were found in suburban Quezon City over the last three days, raising fears of destabilisation a year before the elections, local papers said.
A security guard found an unclaimed bag outside One Burgundy Plaza, a condominium along Quezon City's Katipunan Avenue, at 7am on Monday, the Star said, adding that President Gloria Arroyo and her family had occupied a penthouse suite at the complex. Security forces have not revealed the contents of the package.
A janitor found a homemade bomb, wrapped in packaging tape, with some wires sticking out, near the flag pole of the department of agriculture, also on Monday.
The janitor was questioned at the Quezon City police Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit,
The bomb was similar to the one that was hurled at the Office Ombudsman on Sunday, said Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police spokesman.
"The bomb found at the department of agriculture's compound did not explode, that was why it was seen only on Monday," Espina said.
The Philippine National Police raised the alert level in all government agencies in Quezon City, to prevent bomb explosions, said Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said that government workers must not be cowed by the incident last Sunday. "It's business as usual at the Ombudsman's office," she added. "It might be a part of a concerted effort to sow destabilisation," Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said.
Meanwhile, senior officials denied rumours about an alleged plot from the presidential palace to extend Arroyo's term beyond 2010.
Opposition leaders said Arroyo has allegedly hatched a plan codenamed August Moon to remain in power with the help of loyal military men.
"This is definitely not true. This is fiction and black propaganda. The President will not allow that to happen," said deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo.
The rumoured plan to install members of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978 to top military posts in October has no basis, said Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
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