Manila bombers who plotted attacks on international airport, Chinese embassy arrested

[Edison Chen]

Three men have been arrested over a foiled attempt to bomb the Philippine capital’s airport, and police said on Tuesday they were also planning to attack the Chinese embassy and one of Manila’s biggest malls.

The men, who were detained at the airport with an explosive-laden van on Monday, had planned a series of consecutive attacks, apparently to publicise their anti-China grievances, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

“Apparently this is a misguided group. They claim to be defenders of the Filipino people and consider China and [Filipino-Chinese] oligarch taipans’ monopolistic business practices and illegal mining as enemies,” she said.

De Lima said the men appeared to be particularly angry over the Philippine government’s perceived “soft” stance towards China in a dispute over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

“They want this administration to espouse a tougher stance in this dispute with China,” she said.

De Lima said the group, which may involve more people than those detained, had planned a series of attacks on Monday at buildings linked to China or the Chinese-Filipino business community.

“They also had plans yesterday to firebomb SM Mall of Asia in Pasay city and strafing the Chinese embassy and the DMCI building,” she said.

SM Mall of Asia is owned by Henry Sy, the Philippines’ richest man, who was born in China.

DMCI is a construction firm owned by David Consunji, another ethnic-Chinese Filipino whom Forbes magazine lists as the sixth richest man in the country.

Nevertheless, de Lima said investigators were not convinced that the group’s real intention was to express anger against China and Chinese interests.

“We want to know how big this group is, what is their capacity really to create all this havoc, and what is their real agenda,” de Lima said.

“Are they on their own or are there [people] behind them? We will investigate all these.”

De Lima said the leader of the group claimed to belong to a secretive fraternity of police and military figures that had been linked to coup attempts in the 1980s that failed to topple then-president Corazon Aquino.

She said this claim had not yet been verified.

The current president is Benigno Aquino III, Corazon’s son, who has been an extremely popular president during his four years in office but has endured a few months of brutal political battles over a series of controversies, including about misspent funds and .

One senator who is an ally of Aquino alleged in July that retired military officials were trying to recruit troops to destabilise the government.

The military reaffirmed its loyalty to Aquino following the senator’s comments.

 

[Cossack25A1]

It has began, more will come. And what will our president do? Lock himself in Malacanang palace and play PS4 the whole day.

 

[cnleio]

... ...
It's not a good idea to bomb international airport in home. Sometimes i believe these Right-Wing and Anti-Government Groups inside their own home just help China, making violence & chaos to hurt local ppl and their society .

 

[Cossack25A1]

It could have been from the local Islamic terrorist groups or the radical leftist groups such as the NPA but from the military, I doubt it. If it was a coup, soldiers would not use IEDs unless it was intended as a false flag in order to keep the president stay in power until 2022.

 

[Bob Ong]

Sounds like the works of the stupid racist and anti-Filipino-Chinese here on PDF

Right Cossack?

Philippine bombers had Chinese targets

MANILA - Three men arrested over a foiled attempt to bomb the Philippine capital's airport were also planning to attack the Chinese embassy and one of Manila's biggest malls, authorities said Tuesday.

• Published: 2/09/2014 at 10:45 AM
• Newspaper section: news

The men, who were detained on Monday at the airport with an explosive-laden van, had planned a series of consecutive attacks, apparently to publicise their anti-China grievances, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters.

"Apparently this is a misguided group. They claim to be defenders of the Filipino people and consider China and (Filipino-Chinese) oligarch taipans' monopolistic business practices and illegal mining as enemies," she said.

De Lima said the men appeared to be particularly angry over the Philippine government's perceived "soft" stance towards China in a dispute over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

"They want this administration to espouse a tougher stance in this dispute with China," she said.

De Lima said the group, which may involve more people than those detained, had planned a series of attacks on Monday at buildings linked to China or the Chinese-Filipino business community.

"They also had plans yesterday to firebomb SM Mall of Asia in Pasay city and strafing the Chinese embassy and the DMCI building," she said.

SM Mall of Asia is owned by Henry Sy, the Philippines' richest man who was born in China.

DMCI is a construction firm owned by David Consunji, another ethnic-Chinese Filipino who Forbes magazine lists as the sixth richest man in the country.

Nevertheless, de Lima said investigators were not convinced that the group's real intention was to express anger against China and Chinese interests.

"We want to know how big this group is, what is their capacity really to create all this havoc, and what is their real agenda," de Lima said.

"Are they on their own or are there (people) behind them? We will investigate all these."

De Lima said the leader of the group claimed to belong to a secretive fraternity of police and military figures that had been linked to coup attempts in the 1980s that failed to topple then-president Corazon Aquino.

She said this claim had not yet been verified.

The current president is Benigno Aquino, Corazon's son, who has been an extremely popular president during his four years in office but has endured a few months of brutal political battles over a series of controversies.

A senator-ally of Aquino alleged in July that retired military officials were trying to recruit troops to destabilise the government.

The military reaffirmed its loyalty to Aquino following the senator's comments.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/breakingnews/430057/philippine-plotters-had-chinese-targets

 

[Cossack25A1]

Oh look, the Fil-Chinese is back, going to spread his love for the Yellow-government.

Oh, btw, I am not the only anti-Fil-Chinese racist in this country...and we will no longer be a minority.

 

[Raphael]

Oh no, looks like zero-wing will be out of commission from now on .

 

[DragonEmpire]

Enough racism against Filipino Chinese. It's time for China to send in volunteer troops to gain independence for Filipino Chinese aka "Novo-China." They are fighting a brave battle against the fascists in Manila.

 

[AgentOrange]

Enough racism against Filipino Chinese. It's time for China to send in volunteer troops to gain independence for Filipino Chinese aka "Novo-China." They are fighting a brave battle against the fascists in Manila.

Can we stop with the hyperbole? No one was hurt. And military action is the last resort, not the first one.

I'm glad the Filipino police foiled that terrorist plot because I hate to see ethnic Chinese people get hurt, no matter where they are. However, incidents like this can only work to China's advantage. If the Philippines becomes Asia's version of Afghanistan - fragmented and lawless - they won't really be in any position to pursue their territorial claims. The fact that Filipinos don't consider Filipino-Chinese as one of them is a great sign of discord. One that China should exploit. If they're busy fighting amongst themselves, why on earth should China invade, only to unify them by presenting them with a common foe? Please think before nerd-raging.

Oh look, the Fil-Chinese is back, going to spread his love for the Yellow-government.

Oh, btw, I am not the only anti-Fil-Chinese racist in this country...and we will no longer be a minority.

I encourage you and other true blooded Filipinos to be racist against Fil-Chinese. They only control 80% of your economy after all. Probably because they have high IQs and are good at business unlike true-blooded Filipino supermen with lower IQs but better tree-climbing skills. It would be great for the Philippines if those Fil-Chinese (and their money) are driven out. Maybe to China. China would love to accommodate people with brains and money, unlike the Philippines who can do without either. You should demonstrate in your local Chinatown and let them know how much you hate them.

 

[Aepsilons]

Can we stop with the hyperbole? No one was hurt. And military action is the last resort, not the first one.

I'm glad the Filipino police foiled that terrorist plot because I hate to see ethnic Chinese people get hurt, no matter where they are. However, incidents like this can only work to China's advantage. If the Philippines becomes Asia's version of Afghanistan - fragmented and lawless - they won't really be in any position to pursue their territorial claims. The fact that Filipinos don't consider Filipino-Chinese as one of them is a great sign of discord. One that China should exploit. If they're busy fighting amongst themselves, why on earth should China invade, only to unify them by presenting them with a common foe? Please think before nerd-raging.



I encourage you and other true blooded Filipinos to be racist against Fil-Chinese. They only control 80% of your economy after all. Probably because they have high IQs and are good at business unlike true-blooded Filipino supermen with lower IQs but better tree-climbing skills. It would be great for the Philippines if those Fil-Chinese (and their money) are driven out. Maybe to China. China would love to accommodate people with brains and money, unlike the Philippines who can do without either. You should demonstrate in your local Chinatown and let them know how much you hate them.

The Chinese Filipinos are integrated into society there and do consider the Philippines to be their home. I've had past experiences, personal and professional, with many Filipinos of Chinese decent whilst I was in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Bohol. Let's not overcomplicate the matter by saying that Chinese Filipinos are considered persecuted minorities, nay, they are part of the general Philippine society. Also, the Philippines is a mixture of many ethnicities and cultures, there are Filipino-Chinese mestizos as well who make up some 25% of the entire Filipino population. The Chinese-Filipinos (those who are pure blooded Chinese) account for about 1% of the population. That's one thing I admire about Chinese immigrants to the Philippines; their ability to adapt and assimilate to the local culture and society.

The Philippines, or once known as Maharlika in the Malay tongue, was an ancient trading partner for both Japan and China. Records of the Dai Tekkoku records the interaction of Japanese maritime ships reaching port in present day Luzon. The relations between ancient Philippines and China , Japan predates the Spanish conquest and consequent Hispanization of the archipelago. So it is best to be comprehensive and objective when discussing the Philippines. They are natural partners for not only Japan, but also China. The rich historical interaction between Chinese traders in the ancient Philippines is testament to this flourishing trade between the two peoples. There is no need to have such unnecessary hate and animosity to them now. Be pragmatic.

Perhaps other Filipino members can add to the rich dynamic of the many cultures ; be they Chinese, Malay, Spanish, Japanese, American -- woven into the greater tapestry that is inclusive in the 'Filipino' identity.

@JayMandan , @Zero_wing , @Cossack25A1 , @Bob Ong , @Pinoy , @Pinoy Pride

 

[Jlaw]

Oh no, looks like zero-wing will be out of commission from now on .

one of the arrested could be him....

 

[terranMarine]

one of the arrested could be him....

his absence at PDF is noticeable don't you think?

 

[Cossack25A1]

‘Plot thickens’ in Naia bombing attempt; 3 charged - Manila Standard Today

--------------------------

‘Plot thickens’ in Naia bombing attempt; 3 charged
By Christine F. Herrera, Rey E. Requejo and Jerrylyn Damaso | Sep. 03, 2014 at 12:01am

THE lawyer of the three suspects in the foiled airport bombing on Tuesday claimed his clients were “fall guys” for Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice of the ruling Liberal Party, who plotted to sow terror to secure a second term for President Benigno Aquino III.

Erice immediately branded the allegation as “the joke of the day” and suggested that Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp had floated the accusation to divert public attention from the investigation of the alleged overpricing of a Makati City parking building.

United Nationalist Alliance Secretary General and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco retorted that Erice should be erased.

On Tuesday, lawyer Oliver Lozano, counsel of the suspects Grandeur Pepito Guerrero, Emmanuel San Pedro and Sonny Yohanon, said during the inquest proceedings that his clients were innocent and that they were “nowhere near the vehicle that carried the incendiary bomb at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 parking area” when they were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Lozano said Guerrero was arrested in Makati City.

The NBI complaint showed that Guerrero, San Pedro and Yohanon were all on board the bomb-carrying vehicle upon its arrival at the parking area and that Guerrero disembarked and boarded a cab bound for Makati City.

“My clients were mere victims and the information I got is that they are being made fall guys as part of a larger plot to cause terror with the end-goal of securing a second term for President Aquino,” Lozano said.

“The information said Congressman Erice is behind it. I do not believe it. But I will go to Congress to confront Congressman Erice,” Lozano said.

Erice has been pushing for political Charter change in the House to lift term limits to allow the President to seek a second term.

Erice said he was expecting such stories to surface against him after he started exposing the alleged corruption committed by the members of the Binay family.

“Well, I expect more incredible stories after I criticized VP Binay and his dynasty,” Erice told the Manila Standard.

Erice said he was not surprised that even a 10-year-old story would be revived.

He was referring to the May 2004 incident when police arrested his brother Ernesto and a retired police major for possession of an incendiary bomb, the same bomb confiscated from the NAIA suspects.

Authorities then said the incendiary bomb was allegedly intended to be detonated at Erice’s own political rally to pin the blame on his rivals and to gain sympathy votes.

Erice was then a candidate for mayor of Caloocan City.

Erice’s brother and retired Caloocan City police Major Edgardo Rivera, also a trusted aide of Erice, were arrested as they were on board a multicab loaded with Erice’s campaign materials and the incendiary bomb.

Erice’s brother claimed the incendiary bomb was planted.

Erice said his being implicated in the foiled bombing plot was an “act of desperation” by Binay, who is hounded by corruption scandal over the overpriced P2.2-billion parking building in Makati City.

“They also need diversion from the Makati parking building scam,” Erice said.

In his last press conference, Binay also warned that he had received information that his detractors were planning to mount several “demolition jobs” and a black propaganda campaign against him and his family.

But Binay’s spokesmen said they would “not dignify” Erice’s attempt to pin the bombing plot on the Vice President.

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Justice Department and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a “deeper probe” into the bomb attempt.

“Right now, we want to assure the public that there is no major security threat because the attempt was already foiled. There will be a thorough study on the possible implications of the incident,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said.

He added, however, that the Justice Department has yet to arrive at any conclusion.

“We still need to get inputs from other elements of the intelligence community,” the Palace official added.

Coloma denied Lozano’s allegation that the NAIA incident was staged to justify a martial law declaration.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the three suspect have been charged with illegal possession of explosives and the illegal possession of firearms, but not terrorism because investigators have yet to establish their motives.

The three suspects denied involvement in any bomb plot.

Guerrero, who owns the Toyota Revo where the bomb was seized, said a certain Noberto Barangga borrowed the vehicle from him.

San Pedro and Yohanon, on the other hand, said they were just asked to guard the vehicle but did not know what was inside it.

“The charge is baseless and the suspects are innocent,” Lozano said in an interview.

Lozano said he believed that his clients were just fall guys in a destabilization plot.

“It is evident that the one liable of the alleged illegal possession of explosives was Norberto Barangga who had control of the vehicle and apparently the contents,” Lozano said.

De Lima said, however that the self-proclaimed anti-China group was behind the plot to bomb the airport, apparently as an opening salvo in a campaign to protest what they said was the “soft stance” of the Aquino government in the territorial dispute with China.

In a press conference, De Lima revealed that the group, which called itself the “USAFFE” had planned to undertake a series of bombings as early as August 25, National Heroes Day, but it did not push through.

De Lima said the NBI received a tip at 9 a.m. Sunday and had to move fast.

The NBI operation resulted in the arrest of the three suspects.

NBI operatives seized from the suspect’s vehicle several improvised incendiary devices, which de Lima said can “create loud explosion” and caused a fireball that may injure or even kill people standing five or 10 meters away from the center of the blast. Two firearms were also confiscated

De Lima said Guerrero was the self-proclaimed “general” of the USAFFE, the same name taken from the United States Armed Forces in the Far East during World War II. She said they were still investigating to see how big the group is.

She said Guerrero also admitted he is a member of Guardians, a fraternity composed of active and retired military and police officers and members.

De Lima said the group described itself as a “defender of the Filipino people” and espoused anti-China sentiments.

She added that the group believed the government is too soft in its stance over its territorial dispute with China.

De Lima also showed to reporters the group’s manifesto entitled “Kilusan Laban sa Pananakop,” which the group intended to read after their bombing campaign to dramatize their call for a much tougher stance against China.

The manifesto was dated August 28 but corrections on it indicated it would have been read and released to the media on Sept. 1.

In the manifesto, the group, which the NBI described as an “ultra-rightist group” said its members are composed of active and retired soldiers and policemen as well as former members of the communist New People’s Army and the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front and civilians.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang dismissed reports treating the foiled bombing as a terror threat.

“I don’t think it is a terror attack because they were just firecrackers,” the military chief said.

Catapang said the arrested suspects were close friends to lawyer Ely Pamatong, who scattered spikes on EDSA in 2004 to protest the Arroyo government.

“We were not monitoring them but you know, Pamatong has been notorious for doing these things,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday assured the Chinese embassy in Manila that there was no state policy targeting the Chinese.

De Lima earlier revealed that the group planned a series of consecutive attacks against the Mall of Asia, DMCI and the Chinese Embassy in Makati City.

This was apparently to air their anti-Chinese grievances and protest the Philippines “soft” stance on the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, she said.

 

[Aepsilons]

I applaud the Philippine authorities for intervening and preventing this spectacle.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

Beware: Anti-Chinese mayhem could be Beijing’s handiwork
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 3, 2014 - 12:00am

Malacañang dismisses as an isolated incident Monday’s bombing attempt at the Manila international airport. This is to project an illusion of political stability. For, rumors spread that the arrested bomb makers, because army reservists, are anti-P-Noy admin putschists.

Pretentious admin mouthpieces would do well to stand aside. This is a criminal investigation. Weeks ago the NBI had detected the bomb plot, said to be by extremists disgruntled with P-Noy’s “softness” on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue. The NBI prudently had installed CCTV cameras at the airport parking lot to spot the plotters. Presumably there are more of them out there, who disagree by violence with P-Noy’s smart pitch for UN arbitration of the maritime row. Let the lawmen do their work without political interference.

Any anti-China mayhem should be suspect. The (foiled) bombing is as dubious as perennial calls for retaliatory violence against Chinese Filipino businesses. Thinking Malay Filipinos should be wary. Beijing no less might be fomenting havoc, as an excuse to escalate its sea invasions.

Beijing knows that the Philippines is militarily weak. A century of US military basing, Armed Forces corruption, and communist and Moro rebellions have left the Philippine navy and air force decrepit. Beijing is taking advantage of this to expand its sea territory into Philippine waters.

Years ago Beijing grabbed Panganiban (Mischief) Reef and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, to build naval facilities or station warships. Today it is embedding markers at Recto Bank, within Philippine territorial seas where lies the Sampaguita oilfield. It is also reclaiming with surrounding sand the Burgos (Gaven), McKennan (Hughes), Calderon (Cuarteron), Malvar (Eldad), and Mabini (Johnson South) Reefs.

Beijing’s intent shows in the work in Mabini. It now looks like an islet, with a concrete blue-tint building fronted by newly replanted palm and coconut trees. The “island look,” albeit artificial, is crucial for Beijing. For, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea considers only islands, not reefs or shoals, as baselines for sea territories. Beijing’s dress-up of Mabini still falls short of UNCLOS standards, though. The pact defines an “island” to have its own source of fresh water, which the stolen Philippine reef doesn’t.

Still, Beijing might well name its erection on Mabini the “Sonny Trillanes Hall.” The Philippine senator is shamelessly pro-Beijing. Two years ago when Manila’s Dept. of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to Beijing were denouncing the invasion of Panatag, Trillanes, then visiting China, declared there was nothing bad going on in the WPS. He claimed to know whereof he spoke as an ex-navy officer, whereas the Filipino diplomats supposedly were saber rattling.

Trillanes then outed himself to be in China as no less than P-Noy’s secret personal envoy. In truth he was also traveling in behalf of a Manila basketball association controlled at the time by notorious human trafficker Graham Chua Lim. Months later P-Noy reportedly deported the persona non grata alien. It came only after successive failures of five immigration chiefs, two Supreme Court rulings, and three Presidents to throw him out.

Beijing employs Filipino agents to promote its interests by various means — political, military, terrorism. Violence is a trademark of China’s communist rulers. Bombings and agitations to hurt Chinese Filipinos would divide the country, the easier for it to conquer. Beijing could instigate adventurist politicos and generals to strike at Chinese occupation forces in Philippine waters. This would mar not only Manila’s arbitration case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, but also its lead role in ASEAN to get China to sign a long overdue Code of Conduct in the disputed waters. Beijing in turn would have all the pretexts to push its mythical Nine-Dash Line sea claim.

Beware: Anti-Chinese mayhem could be Beijing’s handiwork | Opinion, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com