Rizal Day bombings:
The Rizal Day bombings, also referred to as the December 30 bombings and 12/30 attacks, were a series of bombings that occurred around Metro Manila in the Philippines on December 30, 2000. The explosions occurred in close succession within a span of a few hours. Twenty-two (22) fatalities were reported and around a hundred more suffered non-fatal injuries.[1][2]
The blasts occurred during a national holiday in the Philippines, where December 30 is known as Rizal Day, commemorating the martyrdom of the country's national hero, José Rizal.
[edit] Blast locations
Plaza Ferguson Makati CBD Blumentritt station Cubao bus Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Five locations 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 exploded at Plaza Ferguson in Malate, Manila. This particular blast site is located less than a hundred meters from the United States Embassy.[1]
- Another bomb detonated at a gasoline station in the Makati central business district. 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]
[edit] Type of explosive employed
The Philippine National Police identified the bombs as one-kilogram blackpowder bombs, set to detonate using 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 city of Talisay in the southern province of Cebu. The town itself is known for the production of blasting caps used in illegal fishing.[4]
[edit] Perpetrators
Initially, various Islamic groups were implicated in the bombings, including the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation Front.[1]
In September 2003, almost three years after the incident, the case remained unsolved as the authorities responsible 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 2003, Al-Ghozi, along with several other accomplices, escaped from their holding cell at Camp Crame.[8] Al-Ghozi was later killed in a firefight with Philippine authorities on October 13, 2003.
[edit] Aftermath
In December 2006, almost six years after the bombings, Metro Manila police 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 Explosives and Ordnance Division and SWAT deployed teams to LRT stations along Taft Avenue, near one of the original bombing sites.[11]
[edit] International reaction
 United States: The US ambassador to the Philippines said that the United States will not stand for such a terrorist act and that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
 United Kingdom: The British ambassador to the Philippines said that the Rizal Day bombings is an act of terrorism and will assist the Philippines in supporting the Philippines war against the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
  Australia and New Zealand: Both Australia and New Zealand has condoled the victims of the bombings. Australia has also offered to support the Philippines in fighting the Islamic Terrorists in the Southern Philippines.
 Russia: Russia has condoled the Victims of the bombings and said Russia will not stand for such a terrorist act same way Russia didn't stand for the Russian apartment bombings in Moscow in 1991. Russia has also expressed having closer relations with the Philippine Government.
[edit] See also
[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 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Jonathan F. (2004-08-04). "2 Rizal Day 'bombers' nabbed". Sun Star Manila. Sun Star Publishing, Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
- ^ 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 2007-02-08.
- ^ Bacalla, Tess B. (2005-03-14). "Coastal City is Hub of Underground Explosives Trade" (in english), Our Latest Report, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
- ^ "Drilon urges authorities to solve Rizal Day bombing" (in english), Sun Star Manila, Sun Star Publishing, Inc. (2003-09-14). Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
- ^ Sy Egco, Joel M. (2003-05-26). "Rizal Day suspect caught" (in english), News: Police, Manila Standard Today. Retrieved on 15 February 2007.
- ^ 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 (2003-07-15). "Rizal Day bomber escapes" (in english), News, Manila Standard Today. Retrieved on 15 February 2007.
- ^ Vargas, Anthony (2006-12-26). "Rizal Day bombing still haunts Metro cops" (in english), The Manila Times Online, The Manila Times Publishing Corp.. Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
- ^ Vargas, Anthony (2006-12-30). "AFP vows vigilance on Rizal Day" (in english), The Manila Times Online, The Manila Times Publishing Corp.. Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
- ^ "Philippine police tightens security ahead of anniversary of Rizal Day bombing" (in english), World News, People's Daily Online (2006-12-29). Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
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