Sona security at highest level after bomb blast

MANILA, Philippines — Security for President Marcos was at its highest level on Monday following a bomb explosion at midnight and the discovery of another explosive device that morning before his State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Despite the tight security, the chief of the Philippine National Police said “something got past us” regarding the blast even as he maintained that police remained vigilant to security threats.

Authorities are investigating the blast near the entrance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Ermita, Manila, which occurred at 12:17 a.m. and was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), according to preliminary reports.

READ: Explosion at DOJ, ‘suspected bomb’ in Senate before Marcos’ 5th Sona

“There are no reported casualties, and the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was immediately notified and responded to conduct a technical examination,” the DOJ said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear how large the bomb blast had been. Images posted by media showed what appeared to be a vehicle windshield cracked by the explosion and a small amount of debris.

Later that morning, a suspected IED was found on the center island of Diokno Boulevard, not far from the Senate, during a routine inspection by Pasay City police.

READ: Sandro Marcos to ask for security sweep after bombs near DOJ, Senate

“The operation yielded a positive result for the presence of explosive components/materials,” the National Capital Region Police Office said in a report—which also noted that operatives had recovered a 9V battery, a blasting cap, a clock and a plastic jar containing a brown powder “suspected to be an explosive material.”

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told reporters there was a “big possibility or probability that the two incidents (the bomb blast and the discovery of another device) are related.”

He acknowledged that while police had contingency plans for “bomb threats, actual bombings and other (things),… something got past us and exploded in front of the [DOJ].” —WITH REPORTS FROM TETCH TORRES-TUPAS, JASON SIGALES, AND AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE