THE WIFE and children of slain oil trader Peter Dy were almost killed by the same type of car bomb that killed him last year.

Quoting bomb squad investigators, Central Police District-Criminal Investigation Unit chief Procopio Lipana said an improvised "pipe bomb" blew up the family's Nissan Patrol car as it cruised on the southbound lane of Edsa in front of SM City Annex.

The explosive was likely placed under the carpet at the back of the vehicle, Lipana said. He added that it was similar to what killed Dy in Valenzuela last year.

The Edsa explosion, which wrecked the sports utility vehicle, hurt Dy's widow, Adelfa Aguirre, her stepson, Patrick Dy, and daughter, Pamela Dy.

The discovery bolstered the police theory that the same person or persons who killed Dy were behind the attempt on his wife and children, said Central Police District director Nicasio Radovan Jr.

So far, the investigation had not turned up any suspects, he said.

Lipana said the victims told investigators in initial interviews that they had no idea who tried to kill them. They, however, declined Lipana's offer of police security, he said.

The victims in the Sunday bombing suffered burns and cuts and were rushed to the Capitol Medical Center. They later transferred to an undisclosed hospital, police said.

In April 2004, a powerful explosive tore up the front part of Dy's Mitsubishi Pajero, killing him and injuring his driver and a bystander. DJ Yap