Palace: Bomb texts not from 'us'

By Louie U. Navarro, 9News Online

Malacañan on Wednesday (February 18) downplayed rumors implying that the text messages going around about supposed bomb threats in Metro Manila are part of a ‘wag the dog’ strategy meant to divert public attention from the negative issues hounding the government lately.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. described the text message as "baseless," saying: “Wala pong ganyang ginagawa ang pamahalaan. Ang pamahalaan po ay tagapangalaga ng seguridad at kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan at hindi po gagawa ng mga walang kuwentang aktibidad na katulad niyan.”

The bomb threat that has been circulating via SMS and social media since Monday (February 16) warned citizens to stay away from public places such as malls, train stations, and other "high traffic areas" as there are plans supposedly from a Muslim group to bomb various cities in Metro Manila such as Quezon City, Taguig, Makati, and Pasig.

The full text message read:

"We just received an information from our assets that there's a planned bombing in the following areas below

1. Quezon City

2. Pasig City

3. Taguig City

4. Makati City

Possible target areas are malls, MRTs and other high traffic areas/public places. Our intel unit have monitored a Muslim group that is behind this and possibly hiding in Maharlika Village in Taguig.

In view of this, we would like to request everyone to stay away from public places.

AFP and PNP are on high alert re: this bomb plot.

Our intel unit is now closely monitoring the situation."

Coloma denied that the message came from Malacañan as he appealed to the public to remain calm amid the bomb threat rumors.

“Nananawagan po kami na manatiling mahinahon ang ating mga mamamayan at huwag maligalig sa mga kumakalat na text,”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) echoed the government's call to keep calm and dismissed the threat as a mere hoax.

AFP Public Affairs chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said the circulating SMS and social media messages only want to instigate fear and chaos.

Cabunoc added the bomb scare also wants to stir anger against Muslims as the fake advisory points to a Muslim group allegedly hiding in Maharlika Village in Taguig as behind the terror plot.

Cabunoc appealed to the public to stop circulating the text message but always be vigilant in their surroundings.

Metro Manila has been getting a number of bomb threats lately especially after the bloody clash in Mamasapano last January 25.

Last January 28 — just three days after the Mamasapano incident — employees from the Department of Justice (DOJ) had to be evacuated from the DOJ Building in Manila after receiving a bomb threat that turned out to be a false alarm.

A recent report also revealed an alleged bomb attack against Pope Francis during his five-day state and apostolic visit in the country last January.  

Former Special Action Force director Getulio Napenas bared during a Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano carnage last week that Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, planned to detonate a bomb targeting the papal convoy's Manila route last January 18. — with additional reports from Paolo Taruc and Philippine News Agency