Gov’t troops seize terrorists’ bomb factory

From Malaya Business Insight (May 11, 2022): Gov’t troops seize terrorists’ bomb factory (By Victor Reyes)

GOVERNMENT troops have seized a bomb factory of the terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah-Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Shariff Saydona town in Maguindanao, the military reported yesterday.

The Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division (ID) said 12 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered at the abandoned factory in Barangay Pagatin last Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th ID commander, said the facility was used by the group of BIFF leader Esmael Abdulmalik, alias Abu Abu Turaife.

Aside from the 12 container-type IEDs, soldiers also found bomb components like blasting caps, ammonium nitrate, sulfur powder, a 9-volt battery, an anti-personnel claymore mine, a rocket-propelled grenade, a 40-mm mortar round, laboratory test tubes, electric wires, cartridge shell for 57mm recoilless rifle, and a remote control.

The recovered explosives and components were buried by the terrorists, said 6th ID spokesman Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar.

He added, “There was no firefight. It’s not a camp. It’s a structure used in the manufacture of IEDs. It was abandoned days ago.”

The BIFF is composed mostly of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that signed a peace accord with the government in 2014. The BIFF currently has 100 to 150 members.

Uy vowed the military will remain relentless in going after members of the terrorist group to prevent them from sowing violence in civilian communities.

“I also urge everyone to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious person or thing in your locality. With your unrelenting support, it is assured that we will soon attain genuine peace and development in Mindanao,” said Uy.

https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/govt-troops-seize-terrorists-bomb-factory/