A shadowy group of self-confessed bombers continued to taunt the Philippine National Police, detonating an explosive device before dawn Tuesday right inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). The blast was again claimed by the group which calls itself Taong-bayan at Kawal, saying that it was also responsible for four previous explosions. Tuesday's explosion, the fifth in eight days, damaged a vehicle of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). No injuries were reported in the Bagong Diwa blast, which happened at around 4:30 a.m. Senior police officials said "low explosives" damaged a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) van parked near the basketball court, across the Internal Affairs Service and Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) office of the NCRPO. NCRPO chief Dir. Vidal Querol said the vehicle's rear tires were blown while its fender was bent. BOMBS NEAR QUEROL Querol also said earlier that "low explosives" were used in two blasts at separate police detachments last Sunday in Quezon City and Manila. He said he slept inside Camp Bagong Diwa on Monday night, thus he was able to respond quickly and inspect the van damaged in the Tuesday blast. Last Sunday, Querol was also able to inspect the scene just minutes after the explosion damaged an NCRPO bus parked infront of some Bliss housing units. On that day, he was purportedly jogging near the University of the Philippines campus in Quezon City when the explosion hit the NCRPO bus. Querol told GMA 7's DZBB on Tuesday that he already bawled out the Bagong Diwa camp commander over the incident. TAONG-BAYAN AT KAWAL A self-confessed member of Taong-bayan at Kawal called up the GMA News Desk at around 4:42 a.m. Tuesday, saying the Bagong Diwa explosion was a reminder to the Philippine National Police (PNP) that it has forgotten its duty to serve the country and instead only serves to prop up the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The caller said they planted the explosive inside the camp on Monday, Independence Day. While they owned up to the latest incident, the caller denied that their group had a hand in the Lipa Public Market explosion which injured eight people. Civilians will never be hurt in their activities, the caller said, since Taong-bayan at Kawal is allegedly committed to protect them. The group maintained that their actions were meant to awaken the citizens against the continuing oppression and serve as a warning to Arroyo and her allies. In an statement e-mailed to GMA News a few hours later, Taong-bayan at Kawal denounced the PNP for becoming President Arroyo's instrument to deceive the Filipino masses. (click here to read the full text) In the e-mail, the group also said, "Makalipas ang isang-daan at walong taon mula ng makasaysayang pagwagayway ng bandila bilang sagisag ng ating kalayaan, nananatiling bihag at nagdurusa ang sambayanang Pilipino sa kamay ng iilan na sakim sa kapangyarihan." The message bore the heading "Hudyat" (Signal). Reiterating previous statements, the group said the PNP already turned its back on its oath to serve and protect Filipinos. It said their alleged bombing activities should serve as warning that the end of Mrs. Arroyo's administration and other abusive officials was near. "Ang aming pagkilos ay hudyat ng papalapit na araw ng paniningil sa huwad, mandaraya at sinungaling na pamahalaang Arroyo. Kaagapay ninyo kami sa muling pagbawi ng kalayaan at katarungang ninakaw at matagal na ipinagkait sa sambayanang Pilipino," the statement read. It added, "Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, malinaw na inihayag ng grupo ang dalisay at marangal nitong layunin: ang pukawin ang loob ng sambayanan laban sa panunupil ng kanilang saligang karapatan, at magbigay-babala kay Ginang Arroyo, sa kanyang mga taga-suporta, at sa iba pang umaabuso sa kapangyarihan." FIVE BLASTS With the Bagong Diwa incident, Taumbayan at Kawal already claimed responsibility for five explosions since June 6. Aside from the incidents last Sunday in Metro Manila, the group claimed responsibility for the blasts at the Grepalife building in Makati (June 6) and the mansion of alleged gambling lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda in Pampanga (June 9). Two other recent blasts occurred in Batangas province, but the group has not claimed responsibility for either incident. Interestingly, the Batangas explosions were the only incidents wherein people were injured or killed. A total of two people died while nine others, including Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez, were injured in the two explosions in the province. THEY ARE TAUNTING US The NCRPO chief also ordered a full investigation into the possible involvement of Taongbayan at Kawal in the Camp Bagong Diwa incident. "Yan na rin ang focus ng investigation ng ating kapulisan ... Nangantiyaw sa hanay ng ating kapulisan, nagtatagumpay sila doon. Kung ang pakay magbigay ng ikauunlad ng bayan, negatibo 'yan, walang benepisyo binibigay," said Querol. For his part, Senior Supt. Felipe Roxas, NCRPO intelligence chief, said they will exert efforts to "unmask" those behind the shadowy group. He did not elaborate. Radio reports said the PNP's entire Special Action Force was placed under investigation for the purported bombing in Camp Bagong Diwa. However, Deputy Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr, PNP deputy chief for operations, told GMANews.TV that the report was false.-GMANews.TV
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