U.S. FBI agents to probe bombing in South Philippines

This is from Xinhua. I wonder why the Philippine govt. finds it necessary to call in the FBI? Maybe there is some agreement that they will be invited in when the matter has to do with terrorism. There seems to be quite a bit of co-operation on military maneuvers and the fight against terrorism with the U.S.


U.S. FBI agents in S Philippines to probe deadly bombing
www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-31 21:41:49

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MANILA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have arrived in the southern Philippine city Zamboanga to investigate Thursday's powerful bombing which killed two and injured more than 20, reported local daily Philippine Daily Inquirer website Saturday.
The report quoted U.S. embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson as saying that FBI personnel were sent "at the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police."
Thursday's bombing took place in front of the office of the U.S.-funded renewable energy company and that of a congresswoman.
The victims were relatives of air force soldiers and they were awaiting to avail of free military air transport to Manila when the bomb went off. The bomb, police investigators said, was hidden in the luggage of people waiting for boarding a military C-130 plane due to take off for Manila
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
Philippine police said the bomb contained TNT but they could not determine the exact target of the attack. Police also blamed Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in the nearby island of Basilan and the Abu Sayyaf rebels for the attack.
The MILF has denied any involvement. An MILF statement said the blast was "again the handiwork of agents of darkness".
Editor: Amber Yao