Army foils bombing attempt in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 3): Army foils bombing attempt in North Cotabato

KABACAN, North Cotabato –- A bombing attempt attributed by the military to the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was foiled here when a civilian alerted authorities about suspicious box left at a roadside in Barangay Kayaga Tuesday morning.

It was the second bombing attempt by suspected BIFF. On Sunday night, a civilian alerted the 45th IB troopers in Barangay Kabingi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao about a suspected IED along a road used by military in transporting troops to nearby Mamasapano and Datu Piang towns.

The IED in Kabacan, composed of assorted nails, broken glasses, wires and detonating cords, according to Colonel Noel Clement, 601nd Infantry Brigade chief.

While the Army bomb experts were checking on the roadside bomb, traffic between Datu Montawal, Maguindanao and Kabacan, North Cotabato was shut down.

It was reopened after the Army successfully defused the IED which, according to Col. Clement, has the “signatures” of the BIFF. Clement said similar IED was used in Kabacan and Mlang bombings late last year.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th ID spokesperson, said the IED was left near Simuay Hardware in Sitio Lotte, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato and found by a man at 11:45 a.m.

Traffic was reopened at 1:40 p.m. after the IED was successfully defused.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th ID chief, lauded the growing awareness and concern that the community has showing since for the past two days now.

"The call for an all-out sector offensive against the armed lawless group who calls themselves BIFF and their terrorist cohorts is successfully bringing the society into a level of awareness and responsibility on individually combating terrorism and lawlessness," Pangilinan said.

Last week, the BIFF declared it will launch attacks in North Cotabato after the group suspected North Cotabato Gov. Emmulou Mendoza has been funding the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to prevent the BIFF entry to the province.

Mendoza denied the BIFF claim.

She said the discovery of the IED by a civilian who alerted the police and military authorities only show the people are more vigilant now.

He urged others to continue helping authorities.

“Be a force multiplier. Let’s maintain this level of cooperation and support to our law enforcers,” she said. “Together we can win the quest for peace and development in North Cotabato.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=740877