Box left on bus causes bomb scare in Manila

A MEMBER of the Manila police bomb squad comes out of the TAS Trans bus after he determines that the package believed to contain an explosive just contains sand, batteries and electrical wires. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Days after a box containing pieces of broken glass caused panic at the Recto station of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 in Manila, another bomb scare was reported, this time near the South Harbor following the discovery of a package left on a passenger bus plying the Lawton-SM Southmall route Tuesday morning.

The box seemed harmless enough but it was the handwritten note that had been left on top of it, as well a cell phone, that prompted the bus conductor, Claudio Barredo, to immediately call for help at 9:15 a.m.

The note read: “May iniwan akong bomba sa ilalim ng upuan ng bus ninyo. Huwag kayong gagawa ng anumang ingay o gulo upang mapansin ng mga pasahero ninyo. Gusto ko ihinto niyo ang bus sa tapat ng post office at tumawag kayo ng pulis. Huwag ninyong subukang kunin at itapon ito dahil isang pindot lang ‘Boom’ … Baguhin ang Pilipinas (I left a bomb under a seat in your bus. Don’t make any noise or commotion to attract the attention of your passengers. I want you to stop the bus at the post office and call the police. Don’t try to take and throw the bomb because one move and ‘Boom’ … Change the Philippines).”

Immediately after the discovery of the box, the driver of the TAS Trans bus stopped the vehicle on the southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive and ordered everyone to get out.

Responding members of a bomb squad of the Manila Police District (MPD) later cordoned off the area as one of their members, Senior Police Office 2 Christopher Millan, used a water charge to neutralize the contents of the box.

A check later showed that it contained no explosives, only sand, two batteries and two pieces of black and white wires, said Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo of the MPD Public Information Office.

According to Margarejo, the bomb scare may be related to a labor dispute in the bus company.

“The suspect may want to create a negative image of the bus [company] … to discourage passengers from taking the bus,” he said, although he added, “But this is just a possibility. We are still investigating.”