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Manila bus bomb similar to devices used in south

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 09:23 GMT

* Device made with 81 mm mortar bomb - govt

* No claim of responsibility

* Security a longstanding concern in Philippines

(Updates with analyst comment)

By John Mair

MANILA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A deadly bomb on a Manila bus appears similar to devices used on Mindanao island, a troubled region where Muslim separatists and Maoists guerrillas are active, the Philippine government said on Wednesday.

No group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing, which killed five people and wounded 13, and served as a reminder of security risks in the poor Southeast Asian nation.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said preliminary findings showed the device was made with an 81 mm mortar bomb rigged up to a timing device, although police said it was detonated by mobile phone.

"From our experience, this type of bomb was used in Mindanao in recent months. In terms of the motive, we cannot determine yet ... but we can say the universe of possible groups is now a little bit smaller," Robredo said in a radio interview.

Last year, security forces said a splinter group of Muslim separatists was behind a bus attack on Mindanao that killed 10 people. There have also been bombings in the south related to extortion, as well as political and clan disputes.

Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda operate on remote southern islands, although they have been largely contained in recent years, with assistance from U.S. military advisers.

President Benigno Aquino said no assumptions would be made, although he said security assessments would be reviewed after intelligence last year suggested a Muslim separatist group had been planning attacks but it was judged not to have the capability.

Pete Troilo, director of business intelligence at Pacific Strategies and Assessments, said the type of bomb was not uncommon in the Philippines although attacks aimed at inflicting casualties were rare in the capital.

"I would say the one difference here is the intent to maim or kill. Things going boom in Manila happens relatively frequently, but it's usually diversionary and it's usually programmed to really avoid casualties," Troilo said.

"The fact this was designed to take innocent lives is what I think changes the game a little bit here."

The Philippines has also been trying to end long-running insurgencies by Muslim separatists and Maoist rebels. Peace talks with both groups are due to restart next month.

The bombing came about three months after a number of foreign embassies had warned of a heightened risk of attacks in the Philippines, including the capital. The government said the warnings had not been warranted.

Peter Wallace of the Wallace Business Forum consultancy, said the government should have taken more heed.

"But in real terms, you can't stop something like this. It doesn't matter how many police you put out on the streets, how much security you have, it is very difficult to stop someone who is determined to blow things up," he said.

Security is poor in parts of the country because of the insurgencies, clan feuds and criminal gangs, and has been a factor in the lack of investment and slow development of rural areas.

This week, a journalist and prominent environmental campaigner was shot dead as he shopped in the capital of Palawan island. Suspected Maoist guerrillas killed a police chief and four officers in the north of the country on Sunday. (Additional reporting by Rosemarie Francisco; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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