NCRPO probes gift-bombing in Taguig

By JEAN FERNANDO
December 30, 2010, 7:32pm


MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Thursday said that the motive of the gift-bombing incident that led to the death of a real-estate businesswoman in Taguig City last Wednesday could have been over family feud.

NCRPO Chief Nicanor Bartolome said that they have learned that prior to the incident, the victim, Yvonne Chua, 31, of Mahogany Place, Block 10, Lot 21 in Barangay Bambang allegedly received threats through her cellphone because of misunderstanding in the family.

He said that based on their investigation, the woman who brought the gift to Chua’s house in Parañaque City was allegedly from the household of the victim’s relative.

The NCRPO chief also said that they came out with the family feud angle as could have been the motive in the killing of Chua which they based on the testimony of the security guard who received the gift claiming that the woman who brought the gift identified herself as the helper of a relative.

Bartolome, however, admitted that they have yet establish a definite set of suspects and they still have to verify the lead.

He said that investigators are talking to the victim’s relatives and neighbors and they are now building a list of names to follow up.

It was learned that the gift which contained three grenades was first brought to the house of the victim in Parañaque last Tuesday night.

The security guard who received it kept the gift for overnight and was brought by the family driver the next day to the couple’s house in Taguig.

Police said that Chua upon receiving the gift placed it on her lap while opening it and one of the grenades placed inside exploded while the two other remaining failed to explode.

During the investigation, Bartolome said they have learned that the victim was engaged in a real estate business and had several commercial buildings in different parts of Metro Manila.

Bartolome also said that Yvonne’s husband is involved in the export business.

As a result of the incident, the NCRPO advised the public to be vigilant when receiving gifts during the holidays.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/295646/ncrpo-probes-giftbombing-taguig

Cops eye family feud in Taguig gift-wrapped blast

By U.S. News Agency / Asian

Police have ruled out terrorism as the motive behind the package-bomb explosion in Taguig City on Wednesday morning that killed a businesswoman.

Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, on Thursday said probers were eyeing other motives, including family feud in the incident.

Bartolome said investigators were pursuing leads that a family feud might have been the motive in the gift-wrapped explosion that killed 31-year Yvonne Chua inside her house in Taguig city.

Bartolome said the leads included the death threats sent to Chua’s mobile phone days before the incident.

“Itong biktima ay may natatanggap na palang pagbabanta sa kanyang cellular phone noong mga nakaraang araw at pinapalagay nya na misunderstanding sa pamilya (The victim recently receives death threats thru her cellular phone but she thinks it’s a family misunderstanding),” Bartolome said.

He also said that the woman, who initially brought the gift package to the Chua’s house in Paranaque before it was taken to Taguig, told the security guard she was from the household of the victim’s relative.

“Yung initial statements na nakuha natin sinasabi na yung package ay galing sa isang miyembro din ng pamilya so tinitingnan natin ito (Those initial statement that we got was that the package came from a member of the family, so that’s other angle that we were trying to see),” the NCRPO chief said.

But he said they had yet to establish a definite set of suspect or suspects as they were still checking all the possible motives of the incident.

Probers are also tracing the source of the fragmentation grenade, two of which were recovered by responding personnel of the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).

Taguig City Police chief, Sr. Supt. Thomas Apolinario, said that victim was actually the target of the bomb because there is another gift tag attached stated that: “To Yvonne. Merry Merry Christmas “.

Apolinario said Chua died instantly when the bomb exploded on her face at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The victim sustained wounds in the abdomen and legs.

Her husband, Vincent Chua, and their child were not hurt in the explosion.

Only one of the three grenades in the package exploded, Bartolome said adding that unwrapping the package removed the safety pin from the device causing it to go off.

Chua was unwrapping the gift inside her home in Mahogany Place 3 in Barangay Bambang, Taguig on Wednesday morning when it exploded killing her on the spot.

The victim was reportedly involved in the real estate business, while her husband was in the export business.

The incident took place while authorities were on heightened alert status due to the 10th anniversary of the Rizal Day bombing that left at least 20 people dead and scores wounded and the upcoming New Years Day revelry. (Reported By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Source: http://www.usnewslasvegas.com/national/cops-eye-family-feud-in-taguig-gift-wrapped-blast/

Family feud seen in gift-wrapped bombs

POLICE are now looking on family feud as one of the motives behind the gift-wrapped bombs that exploded and killed a woman in Taguig City last Wednesday, a high raking police official said Thursday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Nicanor Bartolome issued the statement after they found out that victim Yvonne Chua received death threats days before the incident.

The intimidation to the victim apparently stemmed from "family misunderstanding".

“Itong biktima ay may natatanggap na palang pagbabanta sa kanyang cellular phone noong mga nakaraang araw pa at pinapalagay nya na misunderstanding sa pamilya,” noted Bartolome.

He added that the woman who brought the gift package to the Chua’s house in Paranaque told the security guard that she was from the household of the victim’s relative.

“Yung initial statements na nakuha natin sinasabi na yung package ay galling sa isang miyembro din ng pamilya so tinitingnan natin ito,” reiterated Bartolome.

Probers are also tracing the source of the fragmentation grenades, two of which were recovered by responding personnel of the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).

The gift box contained three grenades but only one exploded when its safety pin was removed when the package was unpacked, killing the victim on the spot.
(AH/Sunnex)

Housewife killed as Christmas gift explodes in Philippines

Manila - A 31-year-old housewife was killed Wednesday in the Philippines when a grenade hidden in a Christmas gift exploded, police said.

The victim, Yvonne Chua, died immediately, according to Director Nicanor Bartolome, chief of Manila police.

Bartolome said the package was delivered to the victim's house in the Manila suburban city of Taguig.

"There were three grenades inside the package and one exploded as the victim opened it," he said. "The victim was sitting on a sofa and the gift was on her lap when the blast occurred."

Chua's husband and 7-year-old son were not hurt in the explosion.

Bartolome said investigators were still determining who sent the package to the family.