Muslim separatist groups yesterday cautioned the government, particularly President Arroyo’s top security officials, against pinpointing any group as responsible in the Friday’s explosion in Makati City that killed nine persons and injured 119 without a thorough investigation.

The statement came as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales also yesterday absolved the military and claimed the bombing was perpetrated by a leftist, rightist or extremist element.

Police said initial investigations showed that the bomb used at the Glorietta mall was most likely C4, explosives only used by the military in the country, adding authorities were looking at the possibility that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) or the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) could have played a hand in the attack. (See related story)

The Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a statement, however, said the government should not to be hasty in making conclusion by just pointing to anyone or group as responsible for the blast.

“A wrong cannot be corrected by committing another wrong,” MILF-Central Committee spokesman Muhammad Ameen stressed, referring to government actuations in the past by just pointing accusing finger to the ASG or other terrorist groups as responsible.

The ASG also yesterday denied it was responsible in the latest terror attacks in the metropolis.

ASG leader Kumander Not Mudalam, during a radio interview, said his group has no involvement in the bomb blast, adding the ASG has not fielded any operative in Metro Manila.

He stressed that security was so tight in Basilan province that it would be impossible for them to launch an attack.

“We don’t have any connection to that. There are those who pretend to be ASG causing the military to bear down on ASG. We just came from Basilan, security is tight on us especially by the Marines. So now we are in the mountains,” Mudalam said.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu also yesterday offered

their help in tracking down those behind the bombing.

The 12,000-strong MILF is “prepared to gather intelligence for the Philippine authorities if asked to do so,” he said.

Philippine police said initial investigations showed that the bomb used on Glorietta mall on Friday was most likely C4, explosives only used by the military in the Philippines.

Gonzales, for his part, revealed the still unidentified terror group behind the incident intends to show its capability before its “links” in the international community and seek funds to bankroll terror activities here in the Philippines.

“We have received intelligence information that this bombing was done for fund-raising purposes, that they could prove before their international partners that they are capable of creating terror activities of great magnitude here and therefore they could demand high amount of financial help for their terror activities,” he said, confirming that the bombing was a terror attack.

“What is bad is that we’re being used as a test case by this terror group, it’s very unfortunate,” he added.

Gonzales said they expect more terror activities in the next coming days.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also cried foul over reports linking the military to the bombing, saying those behind it, including detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, should be “condemned by society.”

Teodoro denied that the bomb attack was meant to divert the public’s attention from the bribery controversy in Malacañang.

Meanwhile, a P3-million reward will be given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Makati City government to individuals who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators in the bomb attack.

Director Geary Barias, Philippine National Police (PNP) National Capital Region Police Office chief, said Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno has approved the release of P2 million for any one who will give information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

He added the Makati City government offered another P1 million reward for the same purpose.

But House Minority Leader Rep. Roilo Golez stressed the necessity for the Arroyo government to solve post haste the bombing and present suspects the soonest, lest the incident would become the subject of vicious speculations like what happened as a result of the Plaza Miranda bombing of Aug. 21, 1976.

“PNP chief Razon is one of the world’s experts in counter-terrorism. He achieved fame in unraveling the Bojinka plot. The nation cannot afford an increased political tension that an unresolved bombing can aggravate,” he said.Sherwin C. Olaes, Gina Peralta-Elorde, Charlie V. Manalo and AFP