Gift bomb came from 'Mama'

MANILA, Philippines - Police teams were deployed yesterday to track down a certain “Mama” who supposedly sent the deadly gift-wrapped bomb that killed a housewife in Taguig City last Wednesday.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Arne de los Santos said five police teams had been dispatched to trace the source of the deadly package.

De los Santos said investigators had recovered a greeting card at the site of the explosion. The card was addressed to the victim with printed words “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” and signed by a certain “Mama.”

The victim, Yvonne Chua, was killed instantly after opening the gift-wrapped box containing several grenades, one of which exploded.

De los Santos revealed investigators are zeroing in on the identity of Mama, a woman who supposedly delivered the deadly gift package to the Chuas’ old residence in Parañaque City last Tuesday.

The family driver reportedly fetched the package from Parañaque the following day and delivered it to the Chuas who are now living in Mahogany Phase 111 Subdivision, Taguig City.

While seated on a sofa, Chua started opening the gift when it exploded.

The victim’s husband, Vincent, was not around during the explosion. Their only child was not hurt.

Responding lawmen recovered a hand grenade near the door and another in the kitchen. Two other hand grenades were found underneath the sofa where Chua had been seated.

De los Santos said three M23 and two MK2 grenades were used. He said it was an M23 grenade that killed Chua.

De los Santos said they are coordinating with the logistics division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the effort to trace the origin of the grenades.

De los Santos stressed the police teams have been tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation to determine the motive.

“We are working on all angles but as of this time we are concentrating on business, properties and grudge as the possible motives behind the death of Chua,” he said.

De los Santos created Task Force Chua composed of elements of the intelligence and investigation division of the SPD, Scene of the Crime Operatives, Taguig City police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to work 24 hours a day to solve Chua’s slaying.

“They have different tasking. We will meet regularly to determine the progress of our investigation until the case is solved,” De los Santos said.

Investigators learned the family of the victim’s husband is involved in exporting tropical fish and other aquarium products.

Yvonne’s parents, on the other hand, run several real estate properties and several apartments in Makati City.

“Both the families of the husband and the victim are well-off. That’s why we are giving the three possible motives in the incident as top priority,” De los Santos said.

He said investigators have talked to Chua’s mother in Forbes Park in Makati City and she vehemently denied having a hand in her daughter’s death.

“The mother claimed she had no reason at all to do that to her only daughter,” De los Santos said.

He said they are requesting for the signature of Chua’s mother to compare it with the writing on the greeting card.

The incident caused the Philippine National Police (PNP) to advise the public to be wary of gift-wrapped packages coming from unknown senders.

PNP deputy spokesman Senior Superintendent Noel Baraceros said recipients of such gifts should check first the origin the package and the letters before opening them.?“We are requesting our citizens to be more vigilant especially in receiving gifts,” Baraceros said.

According to Baraceros, the initial information indicated the Taguig incident was not a terror act.?“But we are looking at this not as terroristic act, this is only addressed to a certain individual. So we are calling our fellow countrymen to check gifts, even letters,” he said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe