Parts of bombs used in CDO, Cotabato openly sold in Mindanao, says Poe

From InterAksyon (Aug 7): Parts of bombs used in CDO, Cotabato openly sold in Mindanao, says Poe

Bombs and other explosive devices and materials, such as those believed used in recent bombings that killed 16 people in Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato cities, are openly sold in some parts of Mindanao, the Senate public order panel chair said Wednesday.

In an interview after the first public hearing on the bombings conducted by her committee, Senator Grace Poe also said one of the victims had told her that in the Cotabato bombing last Monday (August 5), the remote control was bought from a computer gadgets store in the city.

"She (the victim) told me that she thinks that it was directed at her. It's not necessarily a group, it could be personal, but what she expressed was her concern that in certain parts of Mindanao it was very easy to obtain controlled substances (mortar and bombs)," Poe said.

Quoting the unnamed victim, Poe said that “actually, the problem is that in some areas in Mindanao, bomb materials are sold openly.”

Poe declined to cite the particular area that the unnamed victim pointed out to her, but then asked Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Alan Purisima on the veracity of such information.

"My question is, is there truth to this---that it (controlled substance) is easily obtained in certain parts of Mindanao? I don't want to pinpoint a particular area mentioned to me by the victim but apparently from this area it is transported to CDO and to other places. If you don't want to answer this, Sen. (Ralph) Recto has already suggested that we call for an executive session,” Poe said.

Purisima replied by saying “controlled substances are openly available in the market without license or permits.”

"This is really scary. I mean, when you say there's a tiangge [flea market] for shabu, individuals are affected. But this one---we cannot afford to have something like this. I mean, it can't be that they're arrested today and then they return to their ols ways later.  Let's deploy people in those places,” Poe said.

Trillanes, Binay weigh in

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former soldier, confirmed that bombs and other explosive devices smuggled into the country were being sold in the black market in Mindanao.

"Hindi (regulated yan) illegal yan, galing yan sa black market, hindi naman yan over the counter goods from legitimate sources.  Maraming pinaggagalingan yan, ipinupuslit from the outside of the border, sa tinatawag natin na backdoor.  Puwedeng ginagawa nila from what seems to be benign material, and when you mix it, it will become an explosive,” Trillanes, a former navy officer, said.

Meanwhile, Trillanes said the only thing the Senate can do to avoid the rash of bombings is to increase the intelligence funds of both the military and police agencies so they can better track terrorist groups.

Deeper probe

Senator Nancy Binay confirmed the allegation that bomb materials and components are openly sold in some parts of Jolo, Sulu like hotcakes in a market.

Binay urged Poe to make a deeper inquiry into the sources of explosive devices and other components for a proposed measure to regulate the buying and selling of these products--including devices and other materials used in bombings.

Also, Poe asked the PNP to submit to the committee the Rules of Procedures in conducting an investigation for study and analysis of the Senate.

"Hindi kuntento ang taumbayan sa paliwanag ng SOCO na natapos na nila ang kanilang trabaho kaya nalinis ang crime scene. So, hiniling natin na they should submit their Rules of Procedures dahil bukod sa hindi tayo pamilyar dito, gusto din natin makita kung tama, baka naman hindi na tayo nagiging masyadong maingat eh,” Poe said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68153/parts-of-bombs-used-in-cdo-cotabato-openly-sold-in-mindanao-says-poe