Military authorities have urged the public to remain on
alert as the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been
disposing improvised bombs even in public places.
The appeal was issued by Capt. Joann Petinglay, spokesperson
of the 6th Infantry Division after an improvised bomb went off along a lonely
highway in Barangay Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
The explosive, composed of black powder, 9 volts battery,
cut nails and broken motorcycle chains, exploded at 10:00 a.m. at a roadside in
Barangay Taviran, about 800 meters away from an Army and paramilitary
detachment.
Petinglay urged everyone to alert the police or military
authorities if suspicious items are left unattended in their communities.
Senior Insp. Lindsy Sinsuat, police chief of Datu Odin
Sinsuat, said the blast site was isolated from residential areas and the bomb
was left in a grassy area.
Nobody was hurt in the incident. It was the second improvised
bomb that exploded in Maguindanao in the past 48 hours. Army bomb experts are
still determining the IED's triggering device.
The blast came as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of
Staff General Hernando Iriberri was visiting the 6th Infantry Division
headquarters, about 20 kilometers away from the blast site.
Iriberri met with Army local ground commanders and received
update on the campaign against lawless armed elements.
Before Wednesday morning’s IED blast in Datu Odin Sinsuat
town, a powerful improvised bomb ripped through a passing civilian vehicle,
killing four persons, including the municipal councillor of Datu Salibo,
Maguindanao.
Killed on the spot was Norodin Caloy Makabangen, the town's
treasurer and his three relatives. They were heading home after turning back on
their way to Datu Salibo due to Army-BIFF skirmishes at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Army blamed the BIFF for the bombing. It said the
lawless group may have mistaken the black Mitsubishi Delica of Makabangen as a
military vehicle.
Before the attack, government forces and BIFF have been
fighting in the villages of Sambolawan and Tee in Datu Salibo. The fighting
started on Feb. 5 when the BIFF harassed workers of a government dredging
project in Datu Salibo.
On Feb. 9, a powerful IED fashioned from 60 mm mortar with
mobile phone as trigger mechanism was found inside the Maguindanao provincial
capitol grounds in Buluan town while the Maguindanao foundation anniversary
celebration was going on.
It was safely defused by Army bomb experts.
The Army also discourages civilian commuters to travel at
night in Maguindanao, specifically from Cotabato City
An Army intelligence officer who asked not to be identified
theorized the BIFF bombing in civilian areas was meant to divert military
attention from Datu Salibo where heavy fighting had been going on since
February 5.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=858105
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