Army, PNP seek civilians' vigilance vs bombers

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 9): Army, PNP seek civilians' vigilance vs bombers

Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) authorities have called on civilians and commuters in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat to remain vigilant in the face of the rash of bombings that hit the region. Colonel Prudencio Asto, speaking for the regional military's 6th Infantry Division, said while the Army, in cooperation with the police, is considering extortion as the motive in the bombings in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and the town of Isulan in Sultan Kudarat and Tacurong City, it is not discounting sabotage as another possible motive. Asto noted four incidents since December 26 where civilians alerted the police and military and prevented the bombings in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

 The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, on the other hand, offered to work with the Army in determining the brains behind the bombings. Al Haj Murad, MILF chief, said the MILF which is talking peace with the government, has expressed alarm over the incidents. He said it could be the handiwork of a third party or saboteurs who would not want the peace process to succeed. He did not name names. "We are sad it is happening when we are in the thick of negotiations with the government and we are almost there," Murad told reporters.

An Army intelligence officer said those behind the bombings could be members of the al-Khobar extortion gang. Al-Khobar was blamed by police for previous bomb attacks against bus firms that ignore extortion demand from the group. The group is composed of former Moro rebels turned bandits. The same intelligence officer said the bombings and extortion activities could be the handiwork of local politicians who are raising funds as the campaign period draws near. Another police intelligence officer who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said the military has leads in all these bombings. He did not elaborate.

Maj. Gen. Ronnie Ordoyo, 6th Infantry Division chief, has ordered all brigade commanders under him to institute measures and back the PNP in containing the bombing threats. Bomb sniffing dogs are being procured by the military and the police to support the campaign against terrorism in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Cotabato City, which was rocked by three bombing attempts last December, and the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat remained under state of emergency in the aftermath of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=485372