Tragedy Or Terror At Glorietta Mall

14 Comments

October 19, 2007 · by Sonnie · Citizen Journalism, Current Events, Pilipinas

Update (11/23/07): Blast not caused by bomb

Update (11/05/07): Ayala disputes gas explosion theory

Update (11/1/07): Australian experts said it’s gas explosion

Update (10/31/07)

Update (10/28/07)

Update (10/21/01)

4:30 PM: Fire hits Glorietta 4
1:15 PM: Glorietta explosion claimed 11th fatality, 120 wounded.
10:59 PM: List of dead and injured
7:45 AM: Another dead body was found in the rubbles, bringing the total number of fatalities to 10

Update (10/20/07): Confirmed dead rises to 9; blasts was too strong for an LPG; bomb component contains RDX, an ingredient that is also present in military’s C4 bombs; the seat of explosion is most likely at the basement; a commander of Abu Sayaf Group denied involvement in an interview over AM radio.

By this time, Filipinos around the world already knew the blast that happened at one of the upscale Glorietta Malls owned by Ayala Corp., in the financial district of Makati. As of this writing, 8 people were confirmed dead while more than 80 were injured.

If this was a tragedy caused by an LPG explosion, the safety procedures of Ayala Corp. will be put into question. If this was a terror attack, not only the security lapse of Ayala Corp. but also our intelligence network and the national Police will be under scrutiny.

For the life of me, I don’t understand how the culprits was able to sneak in high powered explosives in an upscale mall at the heart of the financial district?

A terror attack is the last thing this country needs. The Philippines is enjoying economic growth and it’s local currency is gaining strength against the dollar.

While Filipinos need a reprieve from the political circus wherein not only politicians but also Catholic Bishops and business groups are trading accusations over alleged pay-offs, overpricing and bribery. The explosion at Glorietta 2 as diversion is too costly for the economy and the international image of the Philippines. And too painful to grieving families who lost a love one.

We need to revisit our security guidelines specially that the perpetrators have outsmarted the security procedure and successfully bombed an upscale mall in the countries’ financial district.

So many questions are in the air, but whether this was a tragedy or terror, families who lost someone will still grieve. Investors will be jittery, tourists will get scared, the local currency and stock market may take a dive.

Let’s pray that the worse is over, the perpetrators will be brought to justice and the country will move on fast.

Watch the amateur video taken at the scene before the media arrived.
MLQ3 summarize fellow bloggers account of the bombing as it unfolds.

Post Script: If you are the HR and/or Admin head, how can you help on this situation?

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14 Responses to “Tragedy Or Terror At Glorietta Mall”

theiLocanoblogger October 19, 2007 at 7:32 PM

grabe nag-alala ako kanina. i tried to call my brother pero hindi siya sumasagot. kinabahan ako, kasi laging namamasyal yun sa glorietta. good thing nasa skul siya that time at may practice. whew!
WalangBalutSaStates October 20, 2007 at 12:49 PM

First of all, my sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Second, I don’t want to sound cruel and irrational but the way security is handled in malls all over the Philippines is a statement saying “Ok, bomb me… terrorize me”… tell you the truth, if I was a terrorist, it would be fairly easy to sneak in some home-made explosive device.. in, let’s say… a gift-wrapped box.

And don’t get me started on the many obvious places on the body to hide dangerous weapons… which, unfortunately, isn’t checked that much at all. You know why? Because if security guards do a full inspection, there would be a line forming… and what happens when mall entrances (or any entrance, for that matter) are crowded? The public gets mad, frustrated, angry… let’s face it, the average bag check lasts for about 5 seconds during rush hours… what can one find from that? I packed two-foot long blade with a cylindrical steel sheath in my suitcase… and even airport security with all their high-tech thingamajigs didn’t see it.

What I’m trying to say is that tragedies like these are terrible, but not inevitable… bombings happened in the past, undoubtedly it will happen again. It’s hardly the government’s fault one person decides to run a bombing mission… if anyone is really at fault, it’s the one who pressed the red button.

At the end of the day, lets not blame security guards for that… or our average intelligence network and national security… and if it’s LPG, then surely Ayala Co. will have a lot of explaining (and paying) to do. All that’s left for anyone to do is to remain vigilant at all times.
Sally Lo October 20, 2007 at 3:11 PM

I was in shock as I watched yesterday’s news. It’s hard to imagine what the survivors and the victims’ families are going through right now. We all thought we have learned our lessons since the LRT bombing a few years ago, plus bomb threats here and there. It’s heartbreaking.

What I have been noticing is that mall security does cursory checks of bags and packages as an SOP at most. Frankly, I don’t even think the security guards know what to look out for. Have two guards or more at a post, and you will have a couple of gossiping guards on duty (usually ladies), their hands mechanically skimming over the customers’ bags/packages, while their minds and attention are focused on their topic at hand.

At this day and age of plastic bombs, we can only hope and pray that security and intelligence would work hand in hand to make shopping a safe activity.
Prudence October 20, 2007 at 4:32 PM

I very much agree that our security systems, not just in Glorietta, but in other malls as well, including the MRT/LRT are very lax. I’ve always noted how the security guards would only dip their sticks into our bags, after opening them, without even looking at the contents.
Miss Christina October 23, 2007 at 4:28 PM

First of all, I am praying for all the victims and their families. It’s just so sad that these people’s lives changed just because they decided to unwind and relax at the time.

I feel sad for everyone. I feel sad for the families of those who died but I feel sadder for those who are injured. I feel sad for Glorietta. I feel sad for myself and for all the people whose leisure time includes going to malls. Truly, everyone is affected by these. Magpapasko pa naman.

I agree with what the article said. I don’t think this is a diversion used by the govt. No matter how corrupt some of them are, I don’t think they’ll use this kind of diversion.

And I agree with what some people say, our security is lax. Why do security guards use stick when checking our bags. Why can’t they use equipment which will detect anything explosive or deadly inside our bag. We CAN STOP this if we want to. Why doesn’t the govt spend THE MONEY on security in order to protect the people instead OF USING THE MONEY FOR THEIR PERSONAL USE.

I hope and pray that everything will be back to normal as soon as possible. I hope those who are in the hospital right now will recover.

*Sigh* Just wish these kind of things never happen. These people are innocent and they dont’ deserve this.
Romy Hitosis October 25, 2007 at 5:30 PM

The blasts in Glorietta that killed innocent people and wounded many others call to the heavens for justice and vengeance… If those responsible for the blasts keep on inventing cover-ups, let them remember the universal law of “karma”:
What you sow, you shall reap!”
mike silva November 6, 2007 at 10:34 AM

Have personally witnessed security lapses at different shopping areas in Ayala Center, Makati. Informed then Makati police chief Gutierez, DILG, DTI. Based on information, said Gutierrez wrote Ayala Land official re said lapses. DILG referred my letter to then Chief PNP Caldren, DTI wrote an official of Ayala Land re said lapses.