Bomb rocks Philippine House of Representatives
Solon's driver killed as bomb rocks House
3 solons, 6 others wounded
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 10:58pm (Mla time) 11/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 11) An explosion at the House of Representatives Tuesday evening that killed the driver of a lawmaker and wounded three solons and six other persons was caused by a bomb, National Capital Region Police Director Gearry Barias said.
The explosion, just minutes after session ended, killed Marcial Tando, driver of Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan.
"There is a bomb that exploded in the South Wing of the Batasan complex," De Venecia told local radio.
"This is deliberate," Barias said of the explosion.
He said they suspect an improvised explosive device was remotely detonated because "the explosion occurred immediately after the suspension of the session at 8:05 p.m."
Barias added that they were looking at one of two motorcycles parked a few meters from the south wing lobby of the Batasan as the carrier of the bomb. The explosion left a three-foot crater.
He said they are questioning a cameraman of the House of Representatives who owned one of two motorcycles but were not taking him into custody.
Among the wounded were Ilagan, Negros Oriental Representative Henry Teves, and Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar.
Gabriela Representative Liza Maza, also identified another of the wounded as her driver Mike Lim. She said Ilagan, Lim and Tando were rushed to the nearby Miguel Malvar Hospital.
Dr. Ven Malabanan of the New Era General Hospital, where Teves was first rushed, said the solon was in "very critical condition" after sustaining blast injuries, including second and third degree burns and shrapnel wounds to the face and body, and needed to be transferred to St. Luke's Hospital.
"He had to be transferred because he needs to be [admitted to] the Intensive Care Unit," Malabanan said.
Two other victims, Julasiri 'Niki' Hayudini, a member of Teves' staff, and Denis Manila remain at New Era. Dr. Mike Brillantes described Hayudini as also in critical condition, with shrapnel wounds and burns all over her body and a left leg that might have to be amputated.
Malabanan also said Hayudini is intubated and unstable while Manila might need to undergo surgery for deep shrapnel wounds.
Barias said Tando, who was identified through his identification card, died on the spot and suffered "a very big wound" in his nape. His body will be brought either to the police crime laboratory or the National Bureau of Investigation for autopsy.
Maza said she had looked out her office window on hearing the explosion and saw Ilagan's car on the driveway of the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City and next to a vehicle, reportedly Akbar's Fortuner sports utility vehicle, which was on fire.
Representatives who were still inside the Batasan when the explosion occurred have not been allowed to leave.
The Gabriela solon said she and Ilagan had left the session hall together but her colleague went straight to the south wing to leave while she passed by her office.
"I heard a loud explosion and thought at first it was thunder but realized it was too loud to be thunder," Maza said. "When I looked out my window, I saw a vehicle on fire and near that vehicle was the car of Congresswoman Ilagan."
She said she immediately sent a member of her staff down to check the situation and was told "there were bodies sprawled throughout the lobby."
De Venecia said he had ordered a "clean sweep" of the sprawling complex, located north of the capital Manila, to ensure "there are no other bombs that are left behind."
Congressman Joel Villanueva said less than 50 of the House's 275 members were left inside when the bomb exploded.
"It was a very huge explosion," Villanueva said. "We are stunned."
"I heard it and I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building. The ceiling of the canopy near the south wing entrance came down," Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Teodoro Casiño told The Associated Press.
Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon, who has arrived at the Batasan, is under orders from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to personally supervise the investigation of the explosion, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
Bunye said Razon is under instructions to determine the cause of the explosion and make periodic reports to Arroyo.
The House explosion occurred amid heightened political tensions in the country, with Arroyo facing a third impeachment complaint in as many years amid a barrage of political storms, corruption scandals and a feisty opposition.
Metro Manila has been jittery since last month, when an explosion ripped through the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100. Police says the mall explosion was an accident.
3 solons, 6 others wounded
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 10:58pm (Mla time) 11/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 11) An explosion at the House of Representatives Tuesday evening that killed the driver of a lawmaker and wounded three solons and six other persons was caused by a bomb, National Capital Region Police Director Gearry Barias said.
The explosion, just minutes after session ended, killed Marcial Tando, driver of Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan.
"There is a bomb that exploded in the South Wing of the Batasan complex," De Venecia told local radio.
"This is deliberate," Barias said of the explosion.
He said they suspect an improvised explosive device was remotely detonated because "the explosion occurred immediately after the suspension of the session at 8:05 p.m."
Barias added that they were looking at one of two motorcycles parked a few meters from the south wing lobby of the Batasan as the carrier of the bomb. The explosion left a three-foot crater.
He said they are questioning a cameraman of the House of Representatives who owned one of two motorcycles but were not taking him into custody.
Among the wounded were Ilagan, Negros Oriental Representative Henry Teves, and Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar.
Gabriela Representative Liza Maza, also identified another of the wounded as her driver Mike Lim. She said Ilagan, Lim and Tando were rushed to the nearby Miguel Malvar Hospital.
Dr. Ven Malabanan of the New Era General Hospital, where Teves was first rushed, said the solon was in "very critical condition" after sustaining blast injuries, including second and third degree burns and shrapnel wounds to the face and body, and needed to be transferred to St. Luke's Hospital.
"He had to be transferred because he needs to be [admitted to] the Intensive Care Unit," Malabanan said.
Two other victims, Julasiri 'Niki' Hayudini, a member of Teves' staff, and Denis Manila remain at New Era. Dr. Mike Brillantes described Hayudini as also in critical condition, with shrapnel wounds and burns all over her body and a left leg that might have to be amputated.
Malabanan also said Hayudini is intubated and unstable while Manila might need to undergo surgery for deep shrapnel wounds.
Barias said Tando, who was identified through his identification card, died on the spot and suffered "a very big wound" in his nape. His body will be brought either to the police crime laboratory or the National Bureau of Investigation for autopsy.
Maza said she had looked out her office window on hearing the explosion and saw Ilagan's car on the driveway of the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City and next to a vehicle, reportedly Akbar's Fortuner sports utility vehicle, which was on fire.
Representatives who were still inside the Batasan when the explosion occurred have not been allowed to leave.
The Gabriela solon said she and Ilagan had left the session hall together but her colleague went straight to the south wing to leave while she passed by her office.
"I heard a loud explosion and thought at first it was thunder but realized it was too loud to be thunder," Maza said. "When I looked out my window, I saw a vehicle on fire and near that vehicle was the car of Congresswoman Ilagan."
She said she immediately sent a member of her staff down to check the situation and was told "there were bodies sprawled throughout the lobby."
De Venecia said he had ordered a "clean sweep" of the sprawling complex, located north of the capital Manila, to ensure "there are no other bombs that are left behind."
Congressman Joel Villanueva said less than 50 of the House's 275 members were left inside when the bomb exploded.
"It was a very huge explosion," Villanueva said. "We are stunned."
"I heard it and I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building. The ceiling of the canopy near the south wing entrance came down," Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Teodoro Casiño told The Associated Press.
Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon, who has arrived at the Batasan, is under orders from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to personally supervise the investigation of the explosion, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
Bunye said Razon is under instructions to determine the cause of the explosion and make periodic reports to Arroyo.
The House explosion occurred amid heightened political tensions in the country, with Arroyo facing a third impeachment complaint in as many years amid a barrage of political storms, corruption scandals and a feisty opposition.
Metro Manila has been jittery since last month, when an explosion ripped through the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100. Police says the mall explosion was an accident.