The Logic Behind Bombings

By Mike G. Kulat


The spate of bombings in the country could be considered as a perennial dilemma that has already claimed unaccounted number of innocent civilian lives and wounded more on various degrees. Despite its protracted and continued existence, the authorities have time and again announced to the public that in certain future time explosion will take place then and there. A prediction or intelligence report, that in many instances it became a reality but sometimes not.

The oft-repeated uproar of the authorities before any bomb rampage goes wild is typically echoed by the Chief of Intelligence of 6th Infantry Division quoted by MindaNews in its July 4, 2009 issue which says:“Expect more IED attacks in the coming days for as long as punitive action continues”. This statement from authorities was made before the Manila-based participants to the State of the Bakwits joint coverage on June 30 at the Estosan Garden Hotel barely four days before series of explosion went-off in Cotabato City, Iligan and Jolo on July 4 – 7, 2009.

The irony is if these authorities know in advance the areas potential for future explosions and period then why can’t they prevent or apprehend the perpetrators? The painful truth is that there were many innocent civilians who had been victims of this evil acts and there are equally numerous prey of man-hunt on alleged “bombers” by duly constituted authorities.

The recent disclosure of “whistle-blower” Sgt Vidal Doble could be a potent clue on the real perpetrators of these heinous crimes that victimizes innocent civilians. Sgt Doble had been quoted by Tribune in its July 2, 2009 issue two days before series of blasts in Mindanao saying: “That has been done in the past, just so they (the government) can create a scenario of civil unrest and justify the presence of the military. And if there will be chaos in the streets, this will pave the way for the declaration of state of emergency,” revealed in a chance interview with reporters at the Senate.

This was further corroborated by former Lower House Speaker Jose De Venecia quoted at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Agence France-Presse to have told reporters that: “the rash of bombings was carried out by “nonterrorists” and could be part of a plan to declare martial law.”

Linking this exposure to an incident years back, Lt. Senior Grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his comrades in their testimonies after the infamous “Oakwood Mutiny” expressed same revelation that they were ordered by their “higher Commander” to undertake “bombings” on churches and Mosques in Davao areas. Trillanes, however clarified that they declined to obey the command but just the same bombs exploded on the above areas but added that it may be executed by other military units.

Could these be the reasons why these horrible acts cannot be contained for so long?

Then the usual occurrence is that the authorities are quick to point accusing fingers even before, an hour or day after each explosion to JI, Abu Sayyaf or the Moro Fronts as the perpetrators. Then, the end results of these are continuing man-hunt operations that victimize naturally the Moros or Muslims without the benefit of impartial and thorough investigation.

This might also be among the rationale when the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) stressed in their recent statements that: “It is useless to finger-point based on speculations and hearsay. What all sectors, including the victims of these senseless and criminal acts, are calling for is for the TRUTH to prevail. Thus, the government, through its law enforcement agencies, must work to prove its worth as the government for all citizens, including and especially the weak and the poor.”, and : “Given this situation, MPC posed these questions, “Who is doing this and what are their motives? Is there a grand design that is spinning a desired political scenario? Are we already witnessing before our eyes and at the expanse of our people a build up scenario for 2010?”

A careful scrutiny of occurrence on the ground, the recent bombings in different areas in Central Mindanao alone, to name a few, that in Poblacion Shariff Aguak; Bridge in Lintukan, Datu Piang and the latest in Kitango where scores of people baffled for they were all done in areas that are highly secured or near military controlled areas.


(Mike G. Kulat is the Central Mindanao Cluster Coordinator and concurrent Peacebuilding Program Officer of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society.)