NR0215:On Makati, Davao, Gensan bombings

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
News Release February 15, 2005
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, Chief of Staff
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Rep. Beltran express skepticism over Makati, Davao, GenSan bombings; says RP military joint with US intelligence/military forces possibly behind attacks

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today condemned the bombings last night in Makati, General Santos and Davao, and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Beltran said, however, that he was still unsold on the idea that the bombings were perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group. He said that the bombings were possibly connected to the government, and its desperation to quell growing dissent against the tax measures, and the call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"It's too well-coordinated, too-well planned. The ASG could not have been clever or well-prepared enough to perpetrate such a well-executed plan of terrorism," he said. "It's difficult to discount the role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in this, or that of the US intelligence and military forces. Both the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and the US officials in the country have been very vocal about stepping up the anti-terrorism campaign and to justify the immediate passage of an anti-terrorism bill. Hardcore elements in both parties could well have launched these bombings as part of a plot to force the public into supporting politically repressive moves, and to distract the public from the tax measures the administration is pushing," he said.

Beltran said the military logically has the most expertise as well as the materials, equipment and preparedness to initiate these terrorist attacks. "If it's not the military and if the ASG was really behind the bombings - then heads in the military topbrass should roll," he said.

He also said that the US intelligence and military experts in the country could also have a hand in the bombings. "These US intelligence and military forces are experts in sowing political intrigue and launching attacks in countries where the US has an economic and military agenda. The record of the US in this sort of thing is dripping with the blood of innocent civilians."

The veteran labor leader said that if the ASG was behind the attacks, then it only goes to show that the AFP and the Department of National Defense's statements in the previous months that they have essentially defeated the ASG were all lies. "If the ASG planned these attacks and perpetrated them, then they've not weakened at all and in fact they've recovered and strengthened. It's not likely though that they have spread their operations to Manila and the other urban centers of Davao and General Santos City. The intelligence network of the AFP would have been able to determine this beforehand, unless they've all been sleeping on the job. In whatever case, the AFP, the DND, the ISAFP and even the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should be placed in the spotlight for this tragedy. They seriously failed their mandate to protect public safety and civilian security," he concluded.#