Eastern Mindanao Command also eyeing BIFF hand in Bukidnon bus blast, task forces formed to deter further attacks

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 10): Eastern Mindanao Command also eyeing BIFF hand in Bukidnon bus blast, task forces formed to deter further attacks

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad on Wednesday is not discounting the possibility of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) having a hand in the bomb attack behind the passenger bus in Maramag, Bukidnon which claimed the lives of 10 people and wounded 42 others Tuesday afternoon.

As this develops, Baladad added that task forces, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), are now formed to prevent further bombings.

"We have already created task forces together with the PNP to prevent further bombings. We are now coordinating with the Western Mindanao Command to prevent these lawless elements from conducting their attacks here," he said.

"There is a possibility that the people down under, the BIFF may have a hand in the attack," he said in Filipino.

This is because the signature of the bomb used in the incident has the same pattern as those used by the BIFF, Baladad stressed.

Possible motives for the attack are extortion as another bus company was bombed by the group earlier for its refusal to give to the BIFF's shake-in demand and desire of the BIFF to create terror.

However, he declined to comment further on the matter as the lead agency in the case is the PNP.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=714803