PNP says the bus company ignored their recommendation on security measures, casualty remains 6, injured rises to 34

Miami
September 2, 2008
Story: PNP says the bus company ignored their recommendation on security measures, casualty remains 6, injured rises to 34

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon said that the Metro Shuttle bus company did not follow the recommendations that they gave to them with regards to security measures.

Razon also added that the investigation still looking into the Al-Khobar group as the one responsible for the bombing because the circumstances of September 1 bombing is much the same on what happened last July 24.

“I am suggesting for them to implement strict security measures and to check the baggage of the passengers after the first incident, but they did not follow,” Razon said.

In September 1 bombing 6 were killed and 34 were reportedly injured while in July 24 incident 34 were injured and one killed.

Razon also suggesting for the Metro Shuttle Bus not to pick-up passengers on the way but on the terminals alone, “It seems that they did not learn from the first incident. The same group, the same strategy on the way how the bus was bombed.”

Initial investigation disclosed that the bus picked-up four passengers in Sta. Cruz town also in Davao del Sur, then the four went down before reaching the Digos bus terminal.

After five minutes of staying in Digos bus terminal, the improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside the bus. The police says that the bomb was detonated with the use of cellphone.

The IED was placed in the seventh seat from the driver’s seat and put inside a bag.

The police eyeing extortion as the motive of explosion, it can be recalled that the Metro Shuttle bus is receiving calls from Al-Khobar group who are asking Php500, 000 monthly allowance from the bus company, but the management is not agreeing.