MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE – 8:13 a.m.) At least 12 persons were wounded when a pipe bomb was detonated late Friday night on a crowded street in Quiapo, Manila where illegal gambling was taking place.
The updated casualty count, up one victim from the previous 11, was provided by National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde after a round of hospitals in Manila.
But authorities, including Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa who visited the site, were quick to write off terrorism, saying the explosion, which happened 10:49 p.m., appeared to have been triggered by a feud between a gang and the operators of the illegal “color games.”
Dela Rosa also said the incident isolated and had nothing to do with the 30th Association of Southeast Nations Leader’s Summit being held in the country.
Closed circuit television footage of the site in Barangay 391 along Quezon Avenue showed two men walking toward where a crowd was gathered around the color games.
One of the men then stopped, apparently acting as the lookout, while the other continued until he reached the crowd and, after some moments, crossed the street. The explosion followed and the following frames on the video showed people sprawled on the pavement bleeding from wounds in their legs and torsos.
Despite the casualties, police described the bomb as “weak” and not strong enough to damage establishments in the area.
Dela Rosa also ordered an investigation into why barangay authorities had allowed illegal gambling to operate openly in the community.
WATCH RAW VIDEO OBTAINED BY NEWS5 OF THE EXPLOSION’S AFTERMATH:
