Cotabato City PNP, Army placed on heightened alert following North Cotabato bombings

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 22): Cotabato City PNP, Army placed on heightened alert following North Cotabato bombings

Mayor Japal Guiani Jr has directed the Cotabato City police office and members of the multi-agency peace and order council to ensure the safety of residents amid bombings in nearby North Cotabato the past days.

Speaking to reporters, Guiani said he has recommended to the Army Special Forces Battalion task to secure the city as back up force to the city PNP to deploy armored personnel carriers along major entry and exit points of the city.

"The bombing is very alarming because the victims are civilians and non combatants," Guiani said.

He also urged the public to remain vigilant against lawless elements and people engaged in illegal drugs.

Eight bombing incidents have been reported in North Cotabato, including the explosion of a rifle grenade in Barangay Poblacion here last Sunday.

No one has claimed responsibility in the rash of bombings but the military blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Of the eight bombing incidents, two attempts were foiled while six improvised bombs were detonated by bombers.

Two bombings toppled transmission towers of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in separate areas in Pikit, North Cotabato on January 13 and January 18.

The twin bombings sent parts of North Cotabato, the whole of Maguindanao and Cotabato City without electricity for more than three hours.

Power supply was restored on Wednesday.

Guiani said securing the city is not only the sole responsibility of police and other law enforcers but everybody.

He directed the village officials to closely monitor the movement of its villagers.

"Should there be new faces and doing suspicious activities, it should be reported to authorities so they can be monitored," Guiani said.

The BIFF vehemently denied involvement in bombing of civilians in North Cotabato but the military claimed the bombs used were similar to those recovered in BIFF camps in Maguindanao.

The BIFF, a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF), is opposed to the peace agreement and publicly declard it will continue harassing Army positions in Maguindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=727919