Extortion seen in bus bombing in Cotabato City

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines - Extortion was the motive behind Monday’s night bomb attack on a bus in Cotabato City that injured several people. Bernardo M. Valdevieso, owner of Weena Bus Line, on Tuesday identified the extortion gang as Esbola, a group that has never been heard of even within the military intelligence community. "Before the attack on our bus unit, [a member of the] Esbola group called me [Sunday] night. The group [asked] for P1 million in protection money," Mr. Valdevieso told a local radio station owned by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He added the group threatened that if their extortion demand is ignored, Weena’s bus units will have to ply only until Kabacan in North Cotabato or face sabotage. Weena Bus serves the Cotabato City-Davao City route, which includes Kabacan town. In June 2007, the bus company, the largest transport operator plying the route, was forced to suspend trips up to Kabacan from Davao due to security concerns and an increasing volume of non-paying passengers. Its buses have been attacked several times in the past; among those who claimed responsibility was the al Khobar extortion gang. Col. Julieto D. Ando, 6th Infantry Division spokesman, did not give details on the Esbola group. "I never heard of Esbola even in our military intelligence community. But that group could be the al Khobar using a different name. Anybody can concoct names," he told BusinessWorld. Mr. Ando backed Mr. Valdevieso’s extortion angle behind the recent attack. The bomb exploded at around 7 p.m. near the bus terminal gate along Jose Lim St. The military and police reports on injuries varied from one to two, although news reports claimed four casualties. Initial findings showed the improvised bomb was set off by a cellphone. Senior Superintendent Casimero B. Medes, information officer of the Philippine National Police in Central Mindanao, said the bus had just arrived at the terminal from Davao City. Cotabato Vice-Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr., the acting mayor, has asked for help in reporting extortion attempts and cooperation in neutralizing the group. "The bus company should also refrain from issuing statements that will irk its enemies," Mr. Guiani said. - Romer S. Sarmiento, BusinessWorld