Troops seal off Philippine highway after discovery of powerful bomb

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 27): Troops seal off Philippine highway after discovery of powerful bomb

Communist rebels have planted a powerful bomb on a highway and deployed snipers forcing authorities to seal off the road to motorists in southern Philippines, officials said on Saturday.

It took hours for soldiers to finally secure the highway and eventually disarmed the improvised explosive left behind on Friday night by New People’s Army fighters in the town of Marihatag in Surigao del Sur province.

Major Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the bomb was discovered by a civilian who immediately informed the military and police authorities.

“The road was impassable until about 9 o' clock in the evening because of the presence of NPA snipers in the vicinity. Troops did not engage the rebels due to the presence of civilians in the area which prevented Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K-9 teams from 4th Infantry Division to render safety recovery of the explosive not until night time,” he said.

Balagtey said no fighting occurred because the rebels eventually fled. He said troops recovered a 5-kilogram landmine attached to a blasting cap and electrical wire.

The NPA has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a communist state in the country.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20141227093647