Blasts rock Katipunan, Ortigas; cops on full alert

Two predawn explosions rocked the cities of Quezon and Pasig Friday, on the day Metro Manila police were to go on full alert for the All Saints' weekend. While no one was reported hurt in the two explosions, police are investigating a possible connection between the two incidents. The incident also prompted Quezon City police to set up checkpoints. Radio dzBB's Roland Bola reported the first explosion occurred at 1:05 a.m. in front of the One Burgundy Plaza along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. The explosion created a crater and damaged a parked Honda Civic belonging to Ateneo student Allan Valencia.

Quezon City police bomb squad head Inspector Arnulfo Franco said their initial investigation showed the explosive was an improvised explosive device with a timing mechanism. Franco said they have invited for questioning security guard Elmer Gadanan, who ran for cover when he saw smoke coming from the explosive. Gadanan claimed he approached the device to investigate it but ran for cover when he saw smoke coming out of it, the dzBB report said. A second explosion occurred shortly after the Quezon City incident, where another IED exploded across the Union Bank Plaza along Meralco Avenue in Pasig City's Ortigas district. Sketchy initial reports showed one of four men was seen leaving a bag near the plants on Meralco Avenue. The man was described as wearing a jacket, his face covered. No one was hurt in the Pasig City explosion. Quezon City police District Police Intelligence Unit head Senior Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr. said they are looking into a possible connection with the Pasig City incident. - GMANews.TV