Department of Justice (DoJ) continues to follow leads to determine whether last week’s explosion outside its main office in Manila was an isolated incident or part of a broader scheme.

This was according to Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato when asked whether investigators were looking into a possible link between the explosion just outside the DoJ compound and the improvised explosive device (IED) discovered near the Senate hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.

He said, “We will go where the investigation will lead us with the evidence from the investigation.”

Dato though said it was still too early to conclude whether the incidents were connected or whether the explosion was carried out for a specific purpose.

“Whether there is a connection or for whatever purpose the act was done, we don’t know yet,” Dato added.

The cause of the explosion and its nature are still under investigation, but the whole DoJ compound is secured, the official maintained.

No effect on routine

Despite the incident, Dato said the explosion would not affect the department’s operations.

He said the public can be assured the department will continue to do its work without fear of any interruption or influence from incidents like that.

The DoJ compound along Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila was struck by an explosion believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device 12:17 midnight on 27 July, no one was injured.