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Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Tabak: terrorists says Gov’t
After two days of confusion over if the group that has so far claimed responcibility for five separate bombings on Luzon Island even existed or not - the Philippine Government has declared the TABAK or Taong Bayan at Kawal group terrorists.
[]… Palace calls bombings acts of terrorism
Malacañan on Tuesday branded the series of bombings in Metro Manila as acts of terrorism.
abs-cbnNEWS.com … []
The group had at first been seen as a ' grudge ' group of politcal activists who were claiming responcibility for any act they could speed dial TV networks about.
But now the view is clear- the group does exist- what its goals are still a mystery…
But one thing is claer- injured persons were victims of the blasts in Quezon City albeit the numbers were less than half a dozen.
Todays early morning attack on a old SWAT van parked inside the Camp Bagong Diwa compound - in Taguig raised a few eyebrows. But the camp is hardly a high security area as a whole - a number of communities are in the area and could easily be seen as part of the access routes used by the bomber.
I remember covering stories inside the camp over the years and it is a relatively open area to all who passing through - but there are sections of it where the place is very secure.
The van was parked in a area anyone could have reached.
June 13th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanilaSunday bombings hit Manila & Batangas - Tabak claims Manila blasts
Reports coming out tonight in the capitol city of the Philippines have claimed that the same group that claimed responsibility for an attack in Lubao, Pampanga and in Makati's financial district has come forward to claim responsibly for two attacks on Police Stations today.
'Taong Bayan at Kawal' claims Sunday blasts
The group that claimed responsibility for the series of bombings last week said it was behind two attacks on police stations in Metro Manila on Sunday, ABS-CBN News learned.
abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/11/2006 6:58:59 PM)BAYAN tags govt in Sunday blasts
The activist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said the bombings that hit some areas in Metro Manila and Batangas could be part of a plot to scare and prevent the public from joining protest rallies on Monday, Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day), ABS-CBN News learned.
abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/11/2006 6:06:31 PM
The group did not claim responsibility for the Bombing in Lipa City- but police there do say there is a police outpost near the scene of the blast - hence they are also looking at the same group as all three explosions happened at around the same time.
ABS-CBN InteractiveA group calling itself "Taong Bayan at Kawal" on Friday claimed responsibility to the bombing of the house of Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, son of suspected …
www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=41223 - 22k - 9 Jun 2006 -Manila Standard Today — Metro –A shadowy group, calling itself Taong Bayan at Kawal ng Pilipinas (Tabak) yesterday claimed responsibility for last Monday’s explosion within the vicinity …
www.manilastandardonline.com/?page=police01_feb01_2006 - 20kManila Bulletin OnlineA group calling itself "Taong Bayan at Kawal (or Tabak)" (Masses and Soldiers) claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said it was in retaliation …
www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006060666120.html - 27kThe Daily Tribune <<<>>>A shadowy group called the “Taong Bayan at Kawal” (People and Soldiers) has claimed responsibility for the explosion that rocked an office building in …
www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20060607hed3.html - 9k
The group is seen as new and has not been heard of before these attacks it is unclear what is the objective of the 'TABAK' group as there have not been statements issued by on Political goals of these bombers.
Authorities are investigating. People are puzzled… who are they?
[]…. Police clueless on 'Taong Bayan' bombers
Authorities are still facing a blank wall on a group who owned up to four separate bombings in Metro Manila and Pampanga since last Tuesday.Director Vidal Querol, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said the police have yet to establish the identities of the people … []
Less than two hours later- Police say the group which clamed the attacks and the events themselves were isolated and unrealted- as far ome in the PNP believe the group which is making these claims - DOES NOT EXIST?
[]… PNP: Sunday blasts unrelated
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday three explosions that hit a market in Lipa City, Batangas, and two police precincts in Quezon City and Manila Sunday, were unrelated. …[] ABS-CBN News
In other words - they may just be a group calling up media anytime something happens and claiming repsoncibility. Or so say Police intel who are looking into the mater and after a week cannot find anything or anyone that may be this group.
Taong Bayan at Kawal: politcal bombings all ‘Boom’ but little damage from the bangs.
The group is obscure to say the least one bomb at the grepalife building Makati another bomb in Lubao both of which they claimed responsibility for - it is unclear exactly who or what is the group about.
But any group that uses violence to archive a political end - is either labeled one way or another by law enforcers.
[] …Obscure bombers strike in Lubao
A group calling itself Taong Bayan at Kawal, which owned up to the bombing of the Grepalife Building on Buendia Avenue in Makati, has claimed it also set off the explosion in front of the house of Mayor Dennis Pineda of Lubao, Pampanga, on Friday.
The Manila Times …[] ABS-CBNNews.com
I do remember a few yars back when I was still a reporter in the field when a group was leaving IEDs all over manila - if I was not mistaken they planted a maze of some 34 devices some fake- some real some small devices and some filled only with paint pellets.
That groups name was - Indigenous People's Federal Army (IPFA)
[]…. Aliases: Ad Rev, Indigenous Federal State Army (IFSA)
Founding Philosophy: The Indigenous People's Federal Army (IPFA) is a relatively new terrorist organization that operates in the Philippines. Essentially, the IPFA wants to separate the Philippines into three distinct federal states for Muslims, Christians, and indigenous people. In addition to advocating a separation of ethno-religious groups, the IPFA advocates a federal form of government. As its name implies, the Indigenous People's Federal Army is especially concerned with the plight of the Philippines' indigenous population. The group has vowed to recover ancestral land of specific indigenous groups.
Current Goals: While the Indigenous People's Federal Army has committed several terrorist incidents, none of the attacks resulted in fatalities. The group's objectives for the immediate future are unknown. ….[] Rand corporation data base
That group did do some violent bombings in Mindanao.
.
But this one Taong Bayan at Kawal - seems to be going after the public perceived sources of discontent:
First - a education plan offices- currently in the news. Then a reputed or alleged gambling figure.. the two known 'attacks' as it were of this group which has been using mostly pyrotechnic devices- a lot of boom but little damage from the bangs.
Classic political messages with few collateral effects. dangerous but a interesting group to follow…
Let's hope like the above IPFA - the group having made its point - disbands - and moves on to less violent politcal activism. However- I dont think we've heard the last of this bunch.
