Police: Abu Sayyaf’s UTG behind bomb blast in front of Lamitan City Church

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): Police: Abu Sayyaf’s UTG behind bomb blast in front of Lamitan City Church

The local police have tagged the Abu Sayyaf’s Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) as the ones responsible in the bomb explosion in front of a church in this city.

Senior Insp. Gean Gallardo, local police chief, disclosed Wednesday that investigation showed the motive of the improvised bomb explosion is extortion.

The improvised bomb exploded around 9:10 p.m. Friday in front of the Saint Peter’s Church along Quezon Boulevard in Barangay Maganda, this city.

However, Gallardo said that the church was not the target of the UTG members but the gasoline stations operating in this city.

Gallardo said the UTG members have preferred to place the improvised bomb in front of the church since the gasoline stations were heavily guarded.

Meanwhile, he disclosed they have strengthen the security of this city in coordination with the military forces to prevent a repeat of the incident.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=741096