Terrorism in The Philippines - 2000

A large incendiary bomb exploded aboard a bus on the ferry Lady Mediatrix as it crossed Panguil Bay to Ozamiz City in Mindanao, killing up to 41 people, though police initially confirmed only 26 deaths. Dozens more were injured and at least 50 badly burnt passengers were taken to local hospitals. Witnesses said the bomb exploded as the ferry was about 20 yards from the pier at Ozamiz and that people on the ferry, which was carrying 20 vehicles, jumped into the sea in panic after the blast. A second bomb went off at about the same time, in another bus owned by the same company at Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte province, injuring at least four people, police said.

Two Muslim Malaysians were released soon after, however Abu Sayyaf made various demands for the release of several prisoners, including 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef, $2.4 million and a complete withdrawal of government troops from the area around Jolo where they were holding the hostages. At one point the rebels were reported to have demanded a ransom of $2 million for the release of an ailing German tourist among their captives. In July, a Filipino television evangelist and 12 of his crew offered their help and went as mediators for the relief of other hostages. They, three French television crew members and a German journalist, all visiting Abu Sayyaf on Jolo, were also taken hostage. Most hostages were released between August and September, 2000, partly due to mediation by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and an offer of $25 million in "development aid". One hostage reported other female captives being raped. Abu Sayyaf conducted a second raid on the island of Pandanan near Sipadan on September 10 and seized three more Malaysians. The Philippine army launched a major offensive on September 16, 2000, rescuing all remaining hostages, except Filipino dive instructor Roland Ullah. He was eventually freed in 2003.

On Jolo Island three grenades were thrown into a public market, killing up to four and wounding more than 40. At around the same time, in Zamboanga City, one person was killed and more than 30 wounded when a crude time bomb exploded in a crowded bakery-cafe opposite a police station. Both devices exploded at around 3:30pm. The Jolo police chief quoted witnesses as saying that three men lobbed grenades from the second floor of the market, two exploded in a rice stall and the third in a crowded alley.

A janitor dies and 17 others are injured as a bomb explodes outside an SM Megamall cinema toilet in Mandaluyong City at around 4:30 p.m. Several others were apparently injured during a stampede as smoke filled the mall.

A bomb explodes in a crowded public market in the town of Kabacan on Mindanao, killing at least two people and injuring 33. The explosion during Sunday morning, on the main shopping day of the predominantly Christian town, was caused by a device improvised from an 81 millimeter mortar shell, stated military sources. Many of the wounded were hospitalized in a serious condition, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is suspected of planting the weapon.

Three people were killed and 36 others wounded when an unidentified man threw an improvised explosive device at a crowd in the GM Jumping Horse carnival grounds, near the municipal health office of Monkayo, Compostela Valley. Two people were killed at the scene, while a third victim died due to loss of blood after being taken to hospital. Thirty-six others were hurt by shrapnel and a stampede following the blast, according to a regional police spokesman. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but the military stated investigators did not rule out the involvement of either communist rebels or Muslim separatist guerrillas.

During the Rizal Day national holiday, a series of explosions occurred in five locations around Metro Manila within the span of an hour, leaving 22 dead and around 120 others with non fatal injuries.

• One bomb exploded at Plaza Ferguson in Malate, Manila, less than a hundred meters from the United States Embassy.

• A second bomb detonated at a gasoline station in the Makati central business district. The target was a gasoline station along EDSA, across the street from the Dusit Hotel in Makati. Two policemen, members of the local bomb squad, died as a result of this explosion.

• The cargo handling area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was also targeted with at least one explosive device.

• Another explosive device was detonated inside a bus traveling along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) while the bus was en route in the Cubao area of Quezon City. One passenger was killed while several others were injured.

• The explosion that claimed the most casualties occurred in a train cab at the Blumentritt station of the Metro Manila Light Rail Transit. More than ten passengers were killed and many dozen injured.