The History of the Glorietta 2 Blast
20 October 2007 at 6:26 am | In Uncategorized | 10 CommentsTags: bombing, Controversy, Events, History, Life, makati, Manila, News, Philippines, Politics, Social Commentary, Terrorism, tragedy
Here’s a job for history. As a historian, my first instinct was to look at previous events. Are there no clues to help us piece together what happened yesterday? (Read my initial report, then my mom’s personal account plus some videos.)
(click the image for the Inquirer interactive map)
While the investigations are still underway, it is always helpful to note that this isn’t the first mall bombing though it is arguably the largest and most devastating so far. We may not yet be able to establish the immediate causes of yesterday’s event, but let us see if we can establish a pattern, a continuity of events if you will by looking at the history of mall bombings.
What follows is an Inquirer research report filed by Cyril Bonabente. Let’s add to this list when more information surfaces.
May 17, 2000 — A homemade explosive rocks the Glorietta Mall at 5:02 p.m., injuring 12 persons, mostly teenagers. The bomb was reportedly placed in front of a toilet beside a video arcade. The blast causes the collapse of the ceiling of the pedestrian bridge connecting Glorietta 3 to Park Square 2.
May 21, 2000 — A janitor is killed and 17 are injured when a bomb exploded inside a restroom in a cinema at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Before dawn on May 27, 2000, the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force raids a community in Taguig and arrests 26 suspects in both the Glorietta and Megamall bombings.
Dec. 30, 2000 –Fourteen people are killed and 91 more are injured in synchronized bombings in different parts of Metro Manila. The targets include a Light Rail Transit coach, Plaza Ferguson in front of the US Embassy in Manila, an abandoned gasoline station in front of Dusit Hotel in Makati City, a passenger bus in Cubao, Quezon City, and the cargo handling section of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
Captured in January 2002 for illegal possession of explosives is Jemaah Islamiyah member Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an Indonesian who admits funding the attacks. He is sentenced in April 2002 to 12 years in prison, but escapes on July 14, 2003 from Camp Crame with two suspected Abu Sayyaf members. They are later killed in what was seen as a case of summary execution.
Feb. 27, 2004 –A bomb explodes inside a SuperFerry ship that is sailing off Manila Bay, killing over 100 people. The Abu Sayyaf Group later claims responsibility for the killings.
Feb. 14, 2005 –Four people are killed and at least 60 more are wounded when a passenger bus was bombed in Makati City. On the same day, a mall in General Santos City and a bus terminal in Davao are also bombed, killing four and injuring 36.
Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Solayman says on radio: “This is our Valentine gift to Gloria.”
On Oct. 28, 2005, Makati City Judge Marissa Macaraig-Guillen sentences to death Indonesian Rohmat Abdurrohim and Filipinos Gamal Baharan (alias Tapay) and Angelo Trinidad (alias Abu Khalil) for the Valentine’s Day bombings.
A fourth accused, Gappal Bannah Asali (alias “Boy Negro”), escaped the death penalty by turning state witness.
October 19, 2007, Makati City, an explosion rocks Glorietta 2, killing 9 and injuring over 100. The causes are not yet established although the LPG theory has been ruled out. A lot are entertaining the possibility of a bomb.
So what happens next? Who do you think are behind the plot? The story continues.
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[...] be doing all us a favor. Somehow that joke would end up with the terrorists targeting our malls (as they have done in the past). In a way, that is a commentary on our rapidly expanding mall economy (read The Rise of the Mall [...]
Pingback by Terror hits home? The 10/19 Glorietta 2 bombing. « AKOMISMO || by Sir MartZ — 20 October 2007 #
I think it’s noteworthy that in the aftermath of the Rizal Day 2000 LRT bombing, the usual suspects were blaming Erap and Ping for the blasts, since it happened a week after Clarissa Ocampo’s devastating testimony against Erap in the impeachment trial. It took a year to prove that it was really the handiwork of the Jemaah Islamiyah (Fathur Rohman al Ghozi and Miklos Yunos).
Now what’s the old saying about being condemned to repeat a past forgotten?
No one is gonna recognize their present lifestyles after a while. Let’s face, there are evils greater even than GMA
Comment by DJB Rizalist — 20 October 2007 #
What I find interesting is that it happened when there weren’t many people in the mall. Why Friday afternoon? The area itself isn’t usually crowded. Because of this, I’ve been thinking that maybe what happened (if it was a bombing) was just used to scare people and, in fact, not really intended to kill people . If not, then it seems very poorly planned.
Comment by Angelica — 20 October 2007 #
[...] Martin’s history of bombings in the Metro [...]
Pingback by What Kind of “Terrorists” are We Looking At? « Small World * Big Possibilities — 20 October 2007 #
[...] people went through, comes another pressing human need -to understand and make sense of a tragedy. Akomismo puts the blast in the context of previous terrorist attacks. So does Touched by an Angel. People [...]
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[...] The History of the Glorietta 2 Blast « AKOMISMO || by Sir MartZ [...]
Pingback by PinoyBlurker » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-20 — 20 October 2007 #
Everybody’s accusing the government for masterminding this bombing. I seriously don’t get why everything is the government’s fault.
Comment by Ade — 21 October 2007 #
Opposition, anyone?
Comment by Jayvee — 21 October 2007 #
If it was a bomb, how then did it pass through the security of Glorietta? As i observe these mall security guards, they are not serious in inspecting people’s bags upon entering the premises. Based on my experience, in a mall here in quezon city, they would just stick their props in your bag and won’t even look at the bag, but instead chat with co-workers. If these guards would take seriously their jobs in securing the area they’re protecting, then this might be prevented. What’s their purpose anyway?
Comment by sel — 22 October 2007 #
[...] Desperate Housewives slur and its accompanying petition which I signed anyway, and most recently the Glorietta 2 blasts which almost made me say I’d rather post delayed reactions, but didn’t due to lack of [...]
Pingback by how i miss blogging. « pakshet 101 — 25 October 2007 #