Rizal Day bombings
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The Rizal Day bombings (or December 30 bombings) were a series of bombings that occurred around Metro Manila in the Philippines on December 30, 2000. The explosions happened in close succession within the span of a few hours. There were twenty two (22) reported fatalities and around hundred more suffered non-fatal injuries.[1][2]
A national holiday in the Philippines, December 30 is known as Rizal Day, commemorating the execution of the country's national hero, José Rizal.
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[edit] Bombing Locations
There were a total of five locations that were bombed almost simultaneously within the span of an hour. All of the locations were situated within the greater Metro Manila area on the Philippine island of Luzon.
A bomb was exploded at Plaza Ferguson in Malate, Manila. This particular explosion was situated less than a hundred meters from the United States Embassy.[1]
Another bomb was detonated at a gasoline station in the Makati Central Business District (CBD). The target was a gasoline station along EDSA, across the street from the Dusit Hotel in Makati. Two policemen, members of the local bomb squad, died as a result of this explosion.[1][3]
The cargo handling area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was also targeted with at least one explosive device.[1]
One of the explosive devices was detonated within a bus traveling along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The bomb exploded while the bus was on the road in the Cubao area of Quezon City. One passenger was killed while several others were injured.[1]
The explosion that claimed the most casualties occurred in a train cab at the Blumentritt station of the Metro Manila Light Rail Transit.[1]
[edit] Type of Explosive Used
The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the bombs as one-kilogram blackpowder bombs, set to detonate by timing devices.
In addition, confessions by the convicted perpetrators describe the bombs as ammonium nitrate-based explosives. Most of the components of the bombs such as blasting caps and detonating cords were discovered to have come from the town of Talisay in the southern province of Cebu. The town itself is known for the production of blasting caps used in illegal fishing practices.[4]
[edit] Perpetrators
Initially various Islamic groups were implicated as behind the bombings, including the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation Front.[1]
During September 2003, almost three years after the incident, the case was still unsolved as the authorities were berated by then-senate president Franklin Drilon.[5]
In May 2003, Saifullah Yunos (aka Mukhlis Yunos), a suspect in the bombings, was arrested in the southern city of Cagayan de Oro as he was about to board a plane to Manila. Police were alerted to the suspect when he failed to explain numerous bandages on his face and arms.[6] A month later, he confessed to a level of involvement in the bombings. A member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's special operations group, he was charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder for his role in the bombings.[7]
In the following years, several members of the Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested for their suspected involvement in the bombings. In 2004, two muslim men, Mamasao Naga (aka Zainal Paks) and Abdul Pata (aka Mohamad Amir) were arrested by Philippine armed forces in Marawi City. They were supposedly identified by Fathur Rahman Al-Ghozi, a known member of the Jemaah Islamiyah, as the ones responsible for the LRT train cab bombing.[2][3]
The MILF and the MNLF were later cleared by the Philippine National Police of any involvement in the attacks.
Fathur Rahman Al-Ghozi, an Indonesian national and member of the known terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison for illegal possession of explosives in relation to the Rizal Day bombing incidents. In July of 2003, Al-Ghozi, along with several other accomplices, escaped from their holding cell at Camp Crame.[8] Al-Ghozi was later found and killed in a firefight with Philippine authorities on October 13, 2003.
[edit] Aftermath
In December of 2006, almost six years after the bombings, Metro Manila police still went on heightened alert from bomb scares and the prospect of follow-up attacks on the anniversary of the bombings.[9] The AFP followed suit days after, deploying numerous bomb squads and medical teams to both Fort Bonifacio and Luneta.[10] In addition, the PNP's Explosive and Ordnance Division and SWAT deployed teams to LRT stations along Taft Avenue, near one of the original bombing sites.[11]
[edit] Bibliography
- Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Asia: The Philippine Perspective. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
- News Summaries on Selected Topics, Mindanao Conflict, January - March 2001. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Suerte Felipe, Cecille; James Mananghaya. After CBCP rally, PNP prepares for Rizal Day bombing anniversary. News. ABS-CBN Interactive. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Jonathan F. (2004-08-04). 2 Rizal Day 'bombers' nabbed. Sun Star Manila. Sun Star Publishing, Inc.. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Pulta, Benjamin; Miko Santos (2003-12-30). Gov’t seeks re-raffling of LRT bombing case. Sun Star Manila. Sun Star Publishing, Inc.. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ Bacalla, Tess B.. "Coastal City is Hub of Underground Explosives Trade", Our Latest Report, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2005-03-14. Retrieved on February 14, 2007. (in english)
- ^ "Drilon urges authorities to solve Rizal Day bombing", Sun Star Manila, Sun Star Publishing, Inc., 2003-09-14. Retrieved on February 14, 2007. (in english)
- ^ Sy Egco, Joel M.. "Rizal Day suspect caught", News: Police, Manila Standard Today, 2003-05-26. Retrieved on February 15, 2007. (in english)
- ^ Philippine National Police (2003-06-09). Mukhlis Yunos admits Rizal Day bombings. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ Sy Egco, Joel M., Fel V. Maragay. "Rizal Day bomber escapes", News, Manila Standard Today, 2003-07-15. Retrieved on February 15, 2007. (in english)
- ^ Vargas, Anthony. "Rizal Day bombing still haunts Metro cops", The Manila Times Online, The Manila Times Publishing Corp., 2006-12-26. Retrieved on February 14, 2007. (in english)
- ^ Vargas, Anthony. "AFP vows vigilance on Rizal Day", The Manila Times Online, The Manila Times Publishing Corp., 2006-12-30. Retrieved on February 14, 2007. (in english)
- ^ "Philippine police tightens security ahead of anniversary of Rizal Day bombing", World News, People's Daily Online, 2006-12-29. Retrieved on February 14, 2007. (in english)
