Posted on 02/19/2006 8:38:13 PM PST by HAL9000
Mine too, on a mexican freeway no less.
There are constant rumors of military coups in the Philippines.
IMO, the Philippines are more of a story than the middle east. They're the silent ones.
I should say, Indonesia.
Garbage can explodes inside Malacañan
A plastic garbage container exploded inside the Malacañan compound Monday morning, ANC reported.
ANC correspondent Timi Nubla said garbage container used by palace gardeners exploded some 20 feet across Mabini Hall near Gate 7 of the presidential palace at around 12:05 p.m.
She said the explosion toppled a coconut tree and was loud enough to be heard inside the Malacañan Press Office some 20 feet away.
ABS-CBN correspondent Ruby Bernardo Tayag said the explosion occurred minutes before a scheduled luncheon between President Arroyo and officials of the Intellectual Property Office.
Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit, chief of the Presidential Security Group, said no bomb was found after conducting several sweeps in the area.
He added that the explosion could have been caused by a mixture of cleaning chemicals.
On Saturday, military sources revealed the discovery of a bomb at the Philippine Military Academy during a reunion of academy alumni.
The sources told Reuters that the device, loaded with about 2 kilos of TNT, was found late on Saturday hidden in a clutch bag near the PMA parade ground, where President Arroyo was meant to attend an annual reunion this weekend.
The academy's superintendent declined to confirm the discovery.
"We are still investigating," Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig told Reuters by telephone.
Mrs. Arroyo, who is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, skipped the gathering after a coup plot by fugitive mutineers was revealed last week.
MANILA: The Philippine army tightened security yesterday after finding a bomb in its top military academy, one of the alleged targets in a plot to overthrow and possibly kill the president, military sources said.The device, loaded with 5 lbs (about 2 kg) of TNT, was found late on Saturday (Sunday NZT) hidden in a clutch bag near the parade ground at the Philippine Military Academy, where President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was meant to attend an annual reunion this weekend.
The academy's superintendent declined to confirm the discovery.
"We are still investigating," Brigadier General Leopoldo Maligalig said by telephone.
Arroyo, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, skipped the gathering in the mountain resort of Baguio, about 250km (160 miles) north of Manila, after the coup plot by fugitive mutineers was revealed this week.
Arroyo survived an impeachment attempt last year over allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.
The explosive was discovered only hours after the reunion of the academy's graduates, including the army's top commanders.
Earlier this week, Reuters, quoting two senior generals, reported details of a plot to unseat and possibly kill Arroyo.
The plan involved a mass escape of mutineers originally set for January, hostage-taking at the weekend gathering of military commanders, occupying army camps and removing Arroyo.
On Sunday, the commander of the police's elite force issued a statement denying rumours his troops were planning to storm the main police camp in Manila and hold top police commanders hostage as part of a strike against Arroyo.
"Our ranks remain intact," said Chief Superintendant Marcelino Franco, who was called to a meeting with the head of the police on Sunday to discuss the rumours.
Talk of a plot by some elements of the military has been growing since the escape from an army camp in January of four alleged leaders of a bloodless, one-day mutiny in 2003.
Rumours of unrest are common in the Philippines after a dozen coup attempts in the past 20 years and popular uprisings backed by the army that toppled presidents in 1986 and 2001.
Police in Manila went on heightened but not maximum alert on Friday over reports of large anti-Arroyo protests planned for February 24, the day before the country marks the 20th anniversary of the "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Philippine presidential palace says blast not bomb
MANILA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - An explosion on the grounds of the Philippine presidential palace on Monday was probably caused by chemicals in a trash bin set off by a lit cigarette, not a bomb, the head of security told reporters.
"Nobody was injured," press undersecretary Isabel de Leon told reporters, adding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was inside the palace at the time.
The army tightened security on Sunday after finding a bomb in its top military academy, one of the alleged targets of a plot to overthrow and possibly kill Arroyo, who survived an impeachment attempt last year over allegations of vote-rigging and graft.
Witnesses said the ground shook and a green rubber trash bin was shredded by the blast, which brought government workers from their offices.
"There are no indications of an explosive. We suspect that some chemicals have been compacted in the garbage can," Delfin Bangit, head of the Presidential Security Group, told reporters.
"It may have been triggered by something like a cigarette butt."
In Manila, police were already on maximum alert over the plot and expectations of large protests planned for Feb. 24, the day before the country marks the 20th anniversary of the "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
Last week, Reuters reported the plot involved a mass escape of mutineers originally set for January, hostage-taking at last weekend's gathering of military commanders, occupying army camps and removing Arroyo.
On Sunday, the commander of the police's elite force denied rumours his men were planning to storm the main police camp in Manila and hold commanders hostage as part of the plot.
Talk of a plot by some elements of the military has been growing since the escape from an army camp in January of four alleged leaders of a bloodless, one-day mutiny in 2003.
Rumours of unrest are common in the Philippines after a dozen coup attempts in the past 20 years and popular uprisings backed by the army that toppled Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada as president in 2001.
you are missing the big picture i think. i bet they were after Oscar the Grouch. so from cartoons they have moved to muppets...
Combination of cleaning chemicals??
It was a faulty center fuel tank, yeah, that's it.
Explosion heard at Philippine presidential palace
20 Feb 2006 04:22:02 GMT
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN001048.htm
Source: Reuters
MANILA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A loud explosion was heard on the grounds of the Philippine presidential palace on Monday, television station ANC said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. Witnesses said a green garbage can was shredded by the blast, which brought government workers from their offices.
The army tightened security on Sunday after finding a bomb in its top military academy, one of the alleged targets of a plot to overthrow and possibly kill President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Philippine police placed on full alert nationwide amid coup threats, planned protests
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=4520596&nav=0s3d
MANILA, Philippines The 117-thousand-member Philippine police force has been put on full alert due to a new coup plot against President Gloria Arroyo and planned protests by groups seeking her ouster.
A police official says the red-alert status went into force last night. Arroyo discussed security threats earlier at a meeting with the military's top brass at the presidential palace. A general says the coup plot was hatched by a group of disgruntled soldiers who want to replace Arroyo with a civilian-led revolutionary council.
The military says the plotters are recruiting young officers but it downplays any immediate danger, saying the plan's been "disrupted" and claiming the would-be mutineers appear to have limited capability.
Is that what we used to make volcanoes in science class? It's been so long.
UPDATE:
Philippine presidential palace says blast not bomb
20 Feb 2006 04:52:21 GMT
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN297637.htm
MANILA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - An explosion on the grounds of the Philippine presidential palace on Monday was probably caused by chemicals in a trash bin set off by a lit cigarette, not a bomb, the head of security told reporters.
"Nobody was injured," press undersecretary Isabel de Leon told reporters, adding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was inside the palace at the time.
The army tightened security on Sunday after finding a bomb in its top military academy, one of the alleged targets of a plot to overthrow and possibly kill Arroyo, who survived an impeachment attempt last year over allegations of vote-rigging and graft.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in addition to the normal potential coup-plotters in the army aren't there also a number of former MILF terrorists that were incorporated into the armed forces of that country as the result of an earlier "peace" deal?
TROP, or bad gas...
Why, the ROP strikes again, of course.
ROP strikes again?
It's the Amish again!/ ann coulter
What do hot moms have to do with the Religion of Peace and the Terrorism it brings?
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