Situation in Sulu 'normal' despite Tuesday grenade blast - military commander

From InterAksyon (Sep 11): Situation in Sulu 'normal' despite Tuesday grenade blast - military commander

The military commander in Sulu said the situation in the province remained “normal” as he belied reports a grenade explosion in Jolo town Tuesday afternoon was connected to the fighting between Moro National Liberation Front fighters and government troops in Zamboanga City.

“No, it was just a grenade explosion lobbed by a still unidentified person not in his right mind against a motorcycle,” Colonel Johriel Cenabre said in a phone interview.

“Itong mga ganitong insidente dito sa Sulu ay kadalasan normal na pero walang koneksiyon ‘yan sa nangyayari du’n sa (These kinds of incidents in Sulu are considered normal but this had no connection to what is happening in) Zamboanga City.”

Cenabre said the incident happened in the vicinity of the provincial capitol at around 5:30 p.m.

“No one was hurt (in) the explosion. There is no abnormal situation here except … in areas where we (are) continuously conducting intelligence-driven operations against terrorist members of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” he said.

Asked to confirm reports that MNLF fighters were gathering to provide support for their companions comrades in Zamboanga City, Cenabre said: “We monitored some movements last night in some areas but there was no further movement that followed.”

“The situation here is very normal. But you know we’re ready as always … (for) any given situation. We might not guard on foot all the coastal areas here in Sulu to prevent possible MNLF supporters (from going) to Zamboanga City but we have our Navy assets here. Besides, our intelligence operations here have been heightened and we will … pinpoint where (rebel) movements are,” he added.

He also said they have enough troops to contain any spillover from Zamboanga.
In Camp Aguinaldo, military officials said MNLF founder Nur Misuari “is still in Sulu.”

Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, head of the military’s public affairs office, said it would be up to the local crisis management committee to decide whether or not to grant the MNLF’s demand to pull out government troops from Zamboanga City.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70486/situation-in-sulu-normal-despite-tuesday-grenade-blast---military-commander