Roadside bomb explodes in Cotabato town

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 15): Roadside bomb explodes in Cotabato town

Residents of a remote village in Makilala town, North Cotabato were roused from sleep when a powerful bomb went off around 9:00 p.m. Sunday, a military spokesman said.

Lt. Nasrullah Sema, chief civil military operations officer of the 57th Infantry Battalion, said the roadside bomb was planted at Purok-Dos, Barangay Malasila, Makilala, which was at least 50 meters away from the community proper.

Sema said no one was hurt in the bombing incident. "It, however, caused panic and alarm among the villagers," he said.

The explosion took place when the military vehicle of the 57th IB was about to pass through the barangay road.

Sema believed the communist guerrillas operating in the hinterlands of Makilala town were behind the latest roadside bombing.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Haron Akas, commander of Task Force Cotabato, disclosed that several business establishments and politicians in North Cotabato have received extortion threats from the New People's Army (NPA). Akas said traders have admitted having received such letters from the NPAs demanding from them particular amount.

Sema added some politicians were also prevented by the NPAs from campaigning in areas in the hinterlands of North Cotabato because of their failure to secure permit to campaign, which, he said was tantamount to asking money.

"The election is a democratic process. The NPAs have no right to ask money from the politicians who would want to campaign," Sema said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=516390