Mike A’s LTA building hit by pillbox blast; gang war eyed

An improvised bomb shattered the glass windows of a building owned by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in Makati City before dawn yesterday.

No one was reported hurt when the home-made bomb went off in front of the LTA Building along Perea street where Mr. Arroyo, the husband of President Arroyo, also holds office. It was unclear if the building was the target of the blast.

Police, however, downplayed the possibility of a major terror attack, saying the bomb could have been hurled during a street fight between two gangs.

"Damage was minimal. The explosion caused two small holes about one to two inches in diameter," Makati City police chief Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez added the explosive was fashioned out from firecracker gunpowder mixed with broken glass and wrapped in paper. "No improvised explosive device parts were gathered nor was there a crater formed, indicating that the incident is not terrorist-related," he said.

The bomb damaged the glass panel of the first floor of the building occupied by the Villaraza Law Offices.

Officials pointed out Mr. Arroyo holds office at the eighth floor of the building.

Mr. Arroyo, for his part, downplayed initial reports that he was the target of the explosion.

The First Gentleman issued a statement from Las Vegas where he was among the Filipinos cheering for boxer Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Mexican Erik Morales.

Mr. Arroyo said perpetrators may have wanted to paint a picture of instability to dampen the country’s economic growth. He did not elaborate.

"Whoever did this maybe has nothing to do and wanted to destroy the economic gains we’ve been having in the past months that is improving the lives of our people," Mr. Arroyo said.

"They know that they (suspects) will be irrelevant if our economy improves and they want the people to suffer." he said.

The government has been on alert for bomb attacks by Muslim extremists after 22 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group were killed in a prison uprising in Taguig last week.

Officials warned the Abu Sayyaf has deployed seven extremists for a bombing run in revenge for the killing of their imprisoned members.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon said the pillbox blast was not connected to the bombing threats of the Abu Sayyaf.

"The blast is not connected to the bomb threats of the Abu Sayyaf," Razon said. "We are pursuing a gang war angle." He pointed out the lack of serious damage indicated the incident was not related to terrorism.

Razon claimed the incident could have triggered speculations that Mr. Arroyo was the target of the explosion. — With Paolo Romero, Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AFP