Military recovers 700 kilos of bomb components, mortar in Sulu

From the Manila Times (Sep 17, 2019): Military recovers 700 kilos of bomb components, mortar in Sulu

ABOUT 700 kilograms of bomb components and a mortar at an abandoned house in Patikul, Sulu were recovered, the military said on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Gerard Monfort, spokesman of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the bomb component was ammonium nitrate, which was seized along with an 81-millimeter mortar fuse at about 10 a.m. in Barangay Latih.

Monfort said a local resident reported to the Philippine Army’s 63rd Mechanized Company of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) about the presence of a suspected explosive device in an abandoned house in the village.

This prompted military forces to cordon off the area “to ensure the safety of the populace living near the pinpointed abandoned house.”

Quoting Police Col. Pablo Labra, director of the Sulu provincial police office, Monfort said that the ammonium nitrate “is an explosive used by the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) because of its cratering charge effect when mixed with fuel substances.”

Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Imbang Jr., commander of the 1st BCT, said the troops didn’t expect huge explosive components during the search.

Monfort said the military was trying to determine those who left the explosives.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/17/news/latest-news/military-recovers-700-kilos-of-bomb-components-mortar-in-sulu/617737/