BIFF denies hand in Mlang blast as second victim dies

From InterAksyon (Jan 2): BIFF denies hand in Mlang blast as second victim dies

The Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front denied any involvement in the New Year’s Eve bombing at the public market of Mlang, North Cotabato, which killed two persons and wounded dozens of others.

“Wala kaming kinalaman (We have nothing to do with it,)” BIFF spokesman Abu Misrie Mama said, dismissing allegations that the blast, which ripped through a crowd of last-minute shoppers Tuesday afternoon, was set off by a new recruit of their group.

The explosion killed Zenaida Suelo, 48, and Kristine Salo, 28
.
Of the 36 injured, 19 remain confined in hospitals.

However, Mlang Mayor Joselito Pinol maintained that the BIFF, a breakaway faction from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, citing what he said was the confession of an arrested suspect in the November 23 bombing of a billiard hall in the same town, in which three teenagers died and more than 20 other persons were wounded. 

Authorities have arrested a suspect in the earlier blast -- Abdul Aziz Glang of Derecho Subdivision, Poblacion A, Mlang -- and are looking at the possibility the December 31 bombing was an offshoot of this.

Superintendent Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato police director, said it was clear the New Year's Eve bombers intended to kill and maim as many people as they could.

Another 33 persons were wounded in the explosion that ripped through a crowd of last-minute shoppers at fruit stalls Tuesday afternoon. Although some of the injured have been discharged from hospitals, at least three of the wounded were in critical condition.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza visited a number of the hospitalized victims of the bombing to offer help and assure them that all efforts are being done to get the perpetrators.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/102210/biff-denies-hand-in-mlang-blast-as-second-victim-dies