Lockdown in Quiapo; Palace urges vigilance after blasts

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday urged the public to be vigilant following the twin explosions in Quiapo district in Manila late Saturday that left at least two people dead and six others injured.

The Quiapo area has been put on lockdown while the investigation is ongoing.

“While investigation is now ongoing, we ask the public to remain alert and immediately report to authorities any suspicious activity or movement,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We are saddened by the loss of lives brought by yesterday’s explosions in Quiapo. We likewise wish for the immediate recovery of those who were wounded,” he added.

Abella also asked the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that may cause undue alarm and panic.

Police reports said the first explosion occurred at 5:55 p.m. at the corner of Norzagaray and Gunao streets, while the second was at 8:30 p.m. in the same area near the Manila Golden Mosque.

Two police officers, including Manila Police District (MPD) Crime Laboratory head Chief Inspector Elisa Arturo, who were conducting investigations on the first blast, were injured in the second blast.

The twin explosions took place days after the April 28 pipe bomb blast, also in Quiapo, that injured more than a dozen people.

Islamic State news outlet Amaq News Agency had claimed that the extremist group was behind the explosion but police officials denied this and attributed the incident to a gang war.

The first bombing occurred while the Philippines was hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit.

Quiapo lockdown

Following Malacañang’s call for public vigilance, the Quiapo area has been locked down while the MPD investigation is ongoing.

MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel said the lockdown will be implemented until the conclusion of their probe.

“Checkpoints are being conducted in different approaches leading to the area,” said Coronel in a radio interview, adding that all those coming in and going out will be checked, and if there are explosives, they can be found and confiscated.

“We are on lockdown until after post-blast investigation, forensic examination and interview of residents and vendors in the area. We will continue to secure the area. MPD is on full alert,” he noted, telling residents to report any suspicious events so the police can act on them.

Coronel said the blast was apparently not a terror attack based on the magnitude of the damage and the fact that there was an intended target.

“So far, based on the assessment of EOD (Explosive and Ordnance Division), the area, the fragment and component have not yet been examined. But it was indicative that low explosive was used because the magnitude of the damage was not so serious or widespread, considering that if stronger ones were used, the area affected by the explosion would have been wide,” he said in Filipino.

Coronel said the police is now coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other intelligence units to find out the source and signature of the bomb.

The investigation on the first blast had established that it was caused by a bomb delivered to the area and addressed to a lawyer, according to the MPD chief. (See related story on front page.)

“The one who delivered and the caretaker who received were the ones who were killed. The one who delivered the bomb was instructed to do so,” he added. “Investigation is focused on the background of the person who delivered the bomb and the type of bomb used.”

Coronel said the bodies of the victims were not immediately removed on Saturday night, since the area was not immediately declared safe and cleared.

Investigators have interviewed the head of the Shia Islam of the Philippines, who confirmed that he has been receiving threats through Facebook and other social media networking sites, according to Coronel.

No apparent connection

The MPD chief also clarified that the May 6 blast was apparently not connected to the blast last April 28.

“The April 28 incident started with a clash among Quiapo residents, and after that, the MPD conducted a series of raids. The one last Saturday, we still cannot tell if it is related because the intended target or subject was different, so there’s no established connection yet,” he added.

Coronel said the MPD has arrested one suspect in the April 28 blast and he has been subjected to inquest.

“We already have a suspect in the April 28 blast who is now in custody and we’re still looking for four more. Investigation on the gang war is ongoing, connected to an incident, where a minor was hurt and his group retaliated,” he said.

NCRPO mourns deaths

Meanwhile, the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) is mourning the death of two victims in the twin blasts.

“We mourn for the loss of lives… and pray for the fast recovery of the injured, including our personnel,” NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde said, adding that thorough investigation is being conducting to capture the perpetrators.

Albayalde has also joined Malacañang in urging everyone, especially those living within the area of the explosion, to remain vigilant and to cooperate with the police. 

“Your authorities are on top of the situation, and while there is no reason for the public to be alarmed, I request everyone, especially those on social media, to please refrain from posting and passing on unconfirmed information, so we do not sow fear or mislead the public,” he said. 

Albayalde also called on the public to report immediately to the police anything out of the ordinary. 

“We will update you on the case as soon as our team will complete assessment in the area. We assure everyone that we will leave no stone unturned until we make arrests and give justice to the victims,” he said.

UK advisory

In a related development, the United Kingdom yesterday advised its citizens to avoid the Quiapo area following the twin explosions.

“You should avoid this area, keep up to date with local media and follow the advice of the local authorities,” the advisory issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) stated.

The FCO also advised against all travel to western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups, and against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao and to the south of Cebu province, up to and including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian, due to the threat of terrorism.

“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the Philippines. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at any time and anywhere in the country,” the advisory further said.

“Attacks could happen anywhere, including places visited by foreigners, like airports, shopping malls, public transport and places of worship. You should remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious to the local authorities.”

Last month, the UK urged its citizens to be vigilant, citing a “high threat” of terrorism throughout the country, especially in Mindanao and parts of the Visayas. — With Pia Lee-Brago