While condemning the aggressive actions of the government on handling the rebellion being instigated by loyal supporters of former Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari in Sulu, Hataman berated Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Solaiman for admitting the terroristic actions saying Islam does not allow and promote any attempts to inflict harm on innocent civilians.

“We condemn these evil and horrible atrocities against innocent people who are the usual collaterals. I call on Solaiman and his group to cease from escalating violence against unarmed civilians and show the true doctrines of Islam in their war against the government,” Hataman said.

Hataman expressed dismay on Solaiman whom he knew personally as an engineer by profession before becoming a murderer.

“How come it is a Valentine’s Day gift for President Arroyo when the ones grieving are the families of innocent victims?” he asked the Abu Sayyaf spokesman.  

He called on the authorities to put the perpetrators behind bars and use the full force of the law in effecting and serving justice to the victims.

However, he warned the police and military personnel to observe prudence in effecting arrests as operations done in haste tantamount to discriminating and oppressing innocent civilians, particularly Muslims who are the usual fall guys every time authorities are pressed to present to the media the alleged perpetrators.

“But they should exercise prudence and avoid irresponsibility in arresting the doers and executors of evil actions.  Spare innocent civilians, both Muslims and Christians,” he said.

The solon also slammed the police and military’s failure of intelligence in preventing the Makati blast and even the Mindanao twin bombings.

“The intelligence community owes the public an explanation as to where they spend millions of intelligence funds after the Makati blast. They should have avoided such explosion at the very heart of the country’s busiest and largest business center if they only did their work accordingly,” the lawmaker stressed.

The congressman asked the authorities to enforce strict security measures while calling the public to become more extra vigilant as fresh attacks indicate that all places in the country, including Makati are vulnerable targets of bombings.

The passenger bus blast in Makati came just minutes after two explosions rocked the cities of General Santos and Davao City.

Three people died while 42 others were hurt when a bomb went off around 7 p.m. outside the busy Gaisano Mall in General Santos City, according to the police.

The explosive was placed on a tricycle waiting for passengers outside the mall said Chief Superintendent Antonio Billones, Central Mindanao police chief.

In Davao City, four people were injured when a bomb of still undetermined type exploded outside the Ecoland bus terminal in Matina district around 6:30 in the p.m.