First explosive in Quiapo  might have been remotely triggered —MPD official

The person behind the first blast in Quiapo, Manila on Saturday night may have used a two-way radio to remotely trigger the explosive contained in a package delivered by a GrabExpress driver.

"Puwede ang anggulo natin diyan nasa paligid yung may hawak ng magti-trigger o magpipindot. Sa akin pong pagsisiyasat, puwede pong ginamitan 'yan ng command detonation, yun po yung mabilisan na pwede pong ma-detonate through two-way radio. 'Pag pinindot mo iyong radio sasabog agad," Manila Police District Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) head Senior Superintendent Arnold Santos told radio dzBB.

Santos said that his assessment was based on a CCTV footage installed in the area, which shows that the explosive device exploded about three seconds after it was delivered by the GrabExpress driver to the suspect's supposed target.

The GrabExpress driver and the person who received the package identified as Mohamad Bainga both died on the spot.

"Base sa nakuha sa CCTV, paghatid na paghatid po ng ating empleyado ng Grab wala pang tatlong segundo sumabog na kaya pati yung nag-deliver kasama na [namatay]," Santos said.

He explained that the suspect used a remote trigger instead of a timer to ensure that the explosive device will explode as the target was receiving the rigged package.

"'Di po niya puwedeng gamitan 'yan ng timer dahil baka habang bumabaybay iyong ating motor eh abutan ng timer wala pa dun sa target na puwesto o tao yung kanyang pag-dedeliveran. Puwedeng binabantayan 'to, 'di na sila nag-aksaya ng oras pinasabog na nila agad 'to," Santos said.

National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde had ruled out the possibility that terrorists were behind the two explosions.

Albayalde said investigators are looking into personal feud as possible motive for the blasts.

Six other people, including two policemen, were hurt in the blasts.

Albayalde added the explosions were not connected to the blast in Quiapo area last April 28, which injured 14 people.

The first explosion took place along Norzagaray Street, near the Manila Golden Mosque, shortly before 6 p.m.

A second blast took place at 8:30 p.m., right after Albayalde's briefing at the site of the first blast.

Santos said EOD operatives are still conducting clearing operations at the two blast sites and gathering evidence that can point to a signature of a particular group.

"Sa ngayon po nagko-conduct pa ng clearing operations, 'yun po yung iniisa isa pa natin lahat ng mga bagay o gamit doon sa dalawang tindahan na nasabugan," Santos said.

He added Bainga's family allowed the victim's corpse to be subjected to an autopsy. He said they are hoping to find shrapnel on the victim's body.

Santos said they are also gathering evidence on the second blast site where the explosive device was placed on the roof of an establishment.

"Ayon sa aming imbestigasyon nanggaling ito sa may parteng bubong ng tindahan kaya po nagkaroon siya ng crater sa kisameng semento. Dun po nagsimula ang aming imbestigasyon. Gina-gather pa po namin lahat ng mga bagay mula sa pinagsabugan," Santos said.

Santos said the GrabExpress employee's wife and the owner of the establishment in the second blast site have been invited at the MPD Intelligence and Investigation Division. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News