Philippines: 2 IED’s explode in Metro Manila – no injuries – Police see extortion groups as suspect

Metro Manila – Police in the Philippines capitol region are investigating two bomb attacks.

Both targeted areas near call centers. One targeted a building in the financial Ortigas district of the capitol region. The 1 a.m. bomb blast hit area outside a building used as a call center on Meralco Ave. in Pasig City.

The second blast took place near another BPO center in Quezon City.on Katipunan Avenue later the same morning.

In the second blast, which damaged a parked car a single man was seen leaving a large sports bag near the parked car. The device did not go off as planed per police investigators. "The primer caught on fire when the triggering device or timer went off, fortunately the bomb maker was not skilled and there is plenty of evidence to trace a suspect." a Police investigator said on condition anonymity.  

Both blasts are viewed by police as more harrasmet attacks or possible tests versus police and government response to scene also possible personal grudges.

Police also said that the second IED  left near the parked car was across from a building that has units owned by the family of President Arroyo.

Police are focused in the investigation on a possible threat or extortion angle from criminal gangs, as the most likely motive. "Established terror groups are more skilled in bomb making and the targets are still vague" .Investigators say, "But, the timing of the attacks and type of devices used seem to link the two incidents."

Philippine television network GMA7 quoted Quezon City police bomb squad Inspector Arnulfo Franco that "their initial investigation showed the explosive was an improvised explosive device with a timing mechanism."

It was Franco told reporters on television that in the second explosion along Katipunan Ave. the building near where the bomb was left in Quezon City had units owned by members of the President’s family but did not say this may be a motive for the attacks.

IED’s are commonly used by extortion groups in the southern Philippines and law enforcement has a extensive record of investigating these kinds of bomb attacks.

That both bomb attacks took place near BPO or business process outsource call and services centers is also being looked into to see if anyone in those offices might be linked to the incidents.