New shadowy group says it is behind Manila blast

Manila: A minor explosion took place in an old van that was parked at a police camp in southern suburban Taguig City before dawn on Tuesday, with a new shadowy group claiming it was behind the attack.

An improvised explosive device went off inside an old Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) van, which was parked inside Camp Bagong Diwa, the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), at 4.40am on Tuesday, said Southern Police commander Chief Supt. Wilfredo Garcia.

"The van has not been used and was out of commission for sometime," said Garcia, adding that no one was inside the van at the time of the explosion.

NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol said most of the recent bombings occurred before dawn, and the bomb attacks were planned to avoid civilians.

Investigations are determining how the bomber had sneaked the bomb inside a highly secured place, said Querol.

Twenty minutes after the incident, a person claiming to be a member of the Association of Soldiers and Civilians (Taong Bayan at Kawal), told GMA 7, a TV network, that he was responsible for the attack.

"The PNP has blatantly turned their backs on its sworn duty to protect and serve the people. The PNP concentrates on its role of allowing Gloria Arroyo to cling to power," the man said.

It was the seventh bomb attack since June 1.