MANILA, Philippines--The police ruled out terrorism as the motive in the explosion that rocked the headquarters of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) at Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City on Monday morning, almost two hours before another blast occurred in Quezon City.

?Based on the investigation, we ruled out terrorism as the motive,? Senior Supt. Carlos de Sagun, Mandaluyong police chief, said Tuesday.

De Sagun said there had been no bomb threats against the food and beverage giant before Monday?s incident.

He added that it would likely take a week before the crime laboratory could release its findings on the type of explosive used in the blast that damaged the sign bearing SMC?s name in the compound located at the corner of San Miguel Drive and Doña Julia Vargas Avenue.

C4 or TNT

The official earlier said the explosive used could be C4 or TNT.

But De Sagun said terrorism could not have been the motive, considering the timing and the damage it had caused.

He noted that the blast occurred at 3:02 a.m. when the area was practically deserted, indicating that there had been no intention to inflict harm on anybody.

De Sagun said that about two weeks ago, San Miguel had been the object of a protest with regard to its proposal to build the Laiban Dam in Rizal province, but he noted the demonstration had been peaceful and orderly.

Meanwhile, the police said they were following up various leads in the explosion that took place in front of Puregold Supermarket on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, at around 4:50 a.m. on Monday.

ossibly business-related

?It could be business-related or linked to explosions in the past months,? Supt. Nestor Abalos of the Quezon City Police District told the Inquirer.

Abalos said that just like previous explosions, including one that occurred in front of a condominium on Katipunan Avenue, no one had come forward to claim responsibility.

In June, improvised explosives were found at the Department of Agriculture office in Quezon City and at the Office of the Ombudsman.

According to Abalos, the explosive used in Monday?s bombing was not military-issued.

?It?s TNT where the components could be purchased by those involved in mining or in the demolition of buildings,? he said.