Military and police authorities here have downplayed the
claim of lawless armed group it carried out the series of grenade attacks in
the city targeting government forces.
Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, chief of the Army Special Forces
Battalion, on Tuesday said the statement of Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson of the
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that his group was behind three
grenade attacks in Cotabato City over the weekend, was a "figment of his
imagination."
Sevilla laughed off Mama's claim and pointed to the group of
Ruben Montes, also known as "Black Moro" as the culprits in city
bombings.
Mama said the BIFF area of operation covers Cotabato City
In jest, Sevilla said it was not surprising if the BIFF
would claim responsibility in the death of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
But Sevilla stressed the grenade attacks in the city that
happened on Saturday night and Sunday night were all carried out by Montes'
group. Montes was arrested in September after his group engaged the Army
special forces in a shootout.
The shootout led to the death of Montes' wife and two of his
men.
Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. described Montes as
"leader of a gun-for-hire and crime syndicate engaged in illegal drug
pushing."
Four persons were hurt, including two soldiers, when two men
riding tandem on a motorbike fired a rifle grenade toward a military vehicle on
patrol along Sinsuat Avenue
About 30 minutes earlier, two men on a motorbike also fired
rifle grenade toward the compound of Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato
Light) which triggered city-wide brownout.
Sevilla said the blast at power firm compound and the attack
on Army vehicle were related. On Sunday night, a grenade was found in front of
Cafe Florencio Binggo center along Sinsuat
Avenue
"He wanted to get back at the soldiers because his wife
and two followers died during legitimate police operation," Sevilla said,
explaining why Montes was spearheading a campaign against the Army.
Beside Montes, the Army is also suspecting the involvement
of big time illegal drug syndicates in the city which the military dismantled
last month.
"We have indicators illegal drug pushers were involved
in the bombings," he said.
Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Cotabato City police chief, said
police investigation also consider Montes as the man behind the bombing spree
as well as crime syndicates and illegal drug pushers who recently suffered
blows from the Army and the police with a series of arrests and dismantling of
drug dens.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=828257
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