Four decades have passed since the Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party campaign rally at Plaza Miranda. Two hand grenades were tossed on the stage, causing the death of nine people. Among those killed were a 5-year-old child and Ben Roxas, a Manila Times photographer. The bombing also injured 95 others, including then Sen. Jovito Salonga.
The blame initially fell upon incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos. However, in later years, Senator Salonga who was the most severely injured, reiterated his belief that Marcos was not to blame for the bombing, and that Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Ma. Sison was the brains behind the explosion. AFP defector-turned-rebel returnee Victor Corpuz, also revealed that Sison ordered the bombing of that political rally. In his book “Silent War,” he affirmed that he was present when some leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) plotted the bombing. Marcos had disclosed that the CPP was behind the Plaza Miranda bombing to destabilize the government—which ultimately led to his declaration of martial law.
The CPP has shown its humility by admitting its role in the Sept. 1, 2012, grenade attack in Paquibato District in Davao.
After 40 long years, the CPP should now have the guts to admit that the Plaza Miranda bombing was meant to put the blame on Marcos, to incite the people to rebel and drive the masses to join the underground movement, and to force the government to declare martial law. This was the CPP’s grand design.
Until now, Jose Maria Sison continues to deny these claims, and the CPP has never released any official confirmation of its culpability in the incident.
—JOSEFINA BRIONES,
josefinabriones41@yahoo.com