Secessionists behind bus blast—President

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 13): Secessionists behind bus blast—President

President Benigno Aquino III confirmed here on Friday that the bus bombing in Bukidnon that killed 10 people and injured dozens of others was perpetrated by a secessionist group that wants to derail the government’s peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Aquino made the confirmation as US Ambassador Philip Goldberg condemned last Tuesday’s bombing and said Washington would continue to work with the Philippine government against terrorism.

“We all need to work together as we all do with the government of the Philippines to work against that kind of terror,” Goldberg said. “We have long standing counter-terrorism cooperation with the Philippines.”

“We train together, we’ve exercised together. We’ve advised the Philippines about counter-terrorism and measures to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our special operations forces have worked together for a long time so we continue that effort,” Goldberg said.

Aquino on the other said lawmen have already identified the blast suspect as Macmod Manibpil, an alleged member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Aquino said Manibpil had already been arrested in 2006, but was able to escape the North Cotabato provincial jail in February 2007. He has since been tagged in several bombing attacks in Central Mindanao.

Without giving operational details, Aquino said the government will train its guns on the secessionist group after the military’s campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

“They will no longer have safe havens. And I expect a number of results soon,” the President said.

Aquino said he has spoken with the heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as well as with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II for possible target hardening in Bukidnon.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/13/secessionists-behind-bus-blast-president/