Traffic was light in the city of 12 million as residents avoided the usual New Year's Eve shopping ahead of the midnight revelry and feasting. Police said they still had no idea who was behind the five bombings. At least three people have been taken in for questioning. Opposition leaders said the bombings might have been the work of pro-government agents trying to force the declaration of an emergency or martial law and stop the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada. The trial, in which Mr Estrada has been charged with corruption and bribery, is going against the President, analysts have said.
Proceedings resume tomorrow after the holiday break.
That's still far off. There were no credible claims of responsibility for the attacks, but plenty of theories. Police hinted that Muslim rebels could be involved. A presidential spokesman implicated communist rebels. The embattled President, in a brief televised address five hours after the bombings, tried to calm nerves.