DATE=03/23/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / BOMBS (S-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-287890

BYLINE=JENNIFER O'NEIL

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Philippine police have found two more bombs planted along Manila highways. A total of eight explosives have been discovered this week. As V-O-A's Jennifer O'Neil tells us an indigenous rights group is claiming responsibility.

TEXT: The first bomb was discovered Friday night in a highway overpass in Manila's financial district of Makati. It was constructed with two hand grenades, a timer and a soda can filled with blue powder.

Officials say the device was not rigged to explode and was probably intended to scare people.

A similar bomb was found Saturday morning in one of Manila's suburbs.

A group calling itself the Indigenous People's Federal Army says it planted the bombs and a series of others recently. The I-P-F-A says it wants a federal system of government to allow separate rule for tribal people and Muslims in the mostly-Catholic Philippines.

Manila's police chief says his force is targeting three groups in its investigation - but will probe all possibilities. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/JO/RH