Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Soldiers avert tragedy, recover IED in Cotabato

Thursday, June 15, 2023

WESTMINCOM: Soldiers avert tragedy, recover IED in Cotabato

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 16, 2023): Soldiers avert tragedy, recover IED in Cotabato

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – June 16, 2023

Military troops of the Joint Task Force Central averted a tragedy and recovered an improvised explosive device in Cotabato on Thursday morning, June 15, 2023.

Soldiers responded to a report of a suspected IED emplaced along the barangay road at Sitio Proper, Inug-ug, Pikit, Cotabato. The responding team confirmed the item to be an IED with incomplete components.

Troops immediately cordoned off the area, closed the barangay road, and coordinated with the 33rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team for inspection and possible disruption of the IED.

The EOD team further confirmed that the IED has incomplete components. Recovered components include one unexploded ordnance, electronic wires, and one 9 Volts Eveready battery. The EOD team took the IED components to their headquarters for technical investigation and proper disposition.

Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, said that an investigation is currently being conducted to identify the instigator of this hideous form of violence. “We believe that the perpetrators want to instill fear in the citizens, but we will never allow them to execute their terror ploys.”

“Rest assured that we will continue to take preemptive and decisive actions to counter the desperate attacks of the remaining terrorists who seek to attract attention and support from the communities,” Lt. Gen. Galido added.