PNP chief apologizes for Quiapo twin blasts

“We are very sorry nalusutan tayo. Talagang inaamin namin na may sumabog. Hindi kami pwedeng gagawa ng alibi. Sumabog talaga and we are very sorry for that,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City. (Photo: Philippine National Police/ Facebook)

MANILA–Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday expressed his apology for the twin blasts in Quiapo, Manila, which claimed the lives of two people and injuries to at least six others last Saturday.

“We are very sorry nalusutan tayo. Talagang inaamin namin na may sumabog. Hindi kami pwedeng gagawa ng alibi. Sumabog talaga and we are very sorry for that,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“As far as the motive is concerned, we don’t see any terror angle sa motive but sa tao na nagcarry out ng attack,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said that they stood by the information gathered by the PNP that the twin blasts incident in Quiapo was only an “isolated case” and that the public had nothing to worry about.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief also defended the loss of “signal” of Globe in the blast site and the nearby area on Sunday night.

Dela Rosa said that they resorted to “signal jammer” in the area as part of their “clearing procedures” after the twin explosions.

He added that the “signal jammer” could not cover the blast area, hence, they resorted to “signal shutdown” for 48 hours.

The first incident in Quiapo, Manila last April 28 was caused by a “gang war” while the twin explosions last Saturday night was apparently due to “personal grudge” wherein the “intended target” was Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) examiner Nacer Abinal, who is assigned in Intramuros, Manila.