Second planned bombing in Mindanao foiled – AFP

From GMANews (Oct 9): Second planned bombing in Mindanao foiled – AFP

Another planned bombing in Mindanao by the group allegedly behind the deadly Davao blasts last month was foiled after the capture of three of its members, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) revealed Sunday.

"Actually, [the Maute group]have a plan to conduct another bombing 40 days after the Davao bombing. They were supposed to conduct it 40 days after but this was disrupted because they were... they are the same people who will be utilized," Army Chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said.

Año was referring to the three suspects allegedly behind the bombing of a night market in Davao City last month that left 15 people dead, and more than 65 others injured.

The three members—TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha—were nabbed on October 4 at a checkpoint by joint elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Cotabato City.

The three suspects currently have standing warrants for other crimes, including the attack of a military detachment in Lanao del Sur in February and the raid of a Marawi City jail to rescue eight fellow Maute Group members in August.

While he declined to give specifics on the next supposed target, Año said the men were supposed to bomb an area in Mindanao 40 days after the Davao blasts, as part of the group's continuing effort to divert military focus from the ongoing military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan.

"That's [the planned bombing] already unlikely because we already got the people who are going to carry it out," said Año, noting that two of the captured suspects have been cooperative during the military debriefing.

"For example, they narrated how they executed the [Davao City] bombing. They planned the bombing about two weeks before, they planned it in Cotabato after the arrival of the bomb they used from Butig, Lanao [del Sur]," said Año.

"Their other members are on the run. Once we secure a warrant against them, we will get all of them," he added.

Among the members being pursued are 10 other suspects: nine Maute Group members and a member of the Ansar al-Khilafah, another terrorist group.

According to Año, the Davao City bombing was conducted by the Maute Group in consultation with Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and with one alias Tokboy of the Ansarul Khilafa Philippines (AKP), a liaison with the Maute Group.

"It was meant to ease the pressure and divert the attention, divert the operation being conducted in Sulu and Basilan," he said, given the intensified military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

The military officer said that the blast was also an attempt by an umbrella organization led by Hapilon, seeking recognition from Islamic State (ISIS).

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584390/news/regions/second-planned-bombing-in-mindanao-foiled-afp