The site of the blast that killed 10 people in Lamitan, Basilan. ABS-CBN News
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said it is looking into reports that the Abu Sayyaf group has deployed a "second van" that contains explosives similar to the one that went off in Lamitan, Basilan earlier this week, killing 10 people.
The military refused to give further details but said operations are now on-going against "persons of interest" to quell another possible attack.
Islamic State claims Basilan blast that killed 10
"All possibilities, all indicators that would suggest and would relay, lahat tinitingnan natin 'yan just to ensure na hindi na mauulit (we are looking at all of that just to ensure that it won't happen again)," Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega said.
The bomb that exploded and killed 10 people in Lamitan is easy to manufacture as it makes use of materials that can be bought in hardware stores, Dela Vega said.
"Kung may (if there is a) suspicious amount, large volume of these components are being purchased over the counter sa (at the) hardware store, they are not prevented from selling, but they must inform the security sectors," he said.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman said while there are some Abu Sayyaf members who have surrendered, the terrorist group still maintains some bomb experts.
"May mga tao pa sila. 'Yung mga sumuko na nagsasabi na mayroon na-train na nandiyan pa (They still have people. Those who surrendered said that those who have been trained are still there)," Hataman said.
Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city has doubled security measures especially with information of another possible bombing.
"Checkpoints are also going to be targets of terrorists as what happened in [the] detachment in (Barangay) Colonia. What we intend to do is to also have stringent measures as buffer because we want to protect the lives of civilians and our troops," she said.
Aside from the usual security check, ID’s are now required at checkpoints especially those entering Zamboanga City.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said another terrorist attempt may be prevented if the community will be more vigilant of movements in their territories.
"Tulad 'yung van na 'yun, kung vigilant 'yung ating mga tao sa community, nung pinipinturahan pa lang 'yun dapat nai-report na 'yan. 'Yung mayroon naglo-load ng anumang bagay sa loob, na-report na sana 'yan," he said.
(Like that van [that exploded], if people in the community were vigilant, when it was painted, that should have already been reported. At the time they were loading something inside the van, that should have already been reported.)
Año said initial information showed the bomber may have been targeting the Nutrition Month event in Lamitan City where some 4,000 students were expected to participate.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/03/18/another-abu-sayyaf-car-bomb-afp-probes-reports-seeks-public-vigilance
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