COTABATO CITY , Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 17, 2007) – Philippine security forces have disarmed Wednesday three powerful homemade bombs planted near a public square in downtown Tacurong City in Mindanao, south of Manila, officials said.
The bombs were inside a backpack left at a clothes shop when discovered by the store owner, said Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a spokesman for the Army's 6 th Infantry Division.
"We have disarmed three 60mm mortar bombs fitted with an alarm clock. The vigilance of civilians has prevented what could have been a deadly attack by terrorists," Ando told the Mindanao Examiner.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the foiled bombing, but previous attacks in the area had been largely blamed to the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and its local affiliate the Abu Sayyaf which is tied to al-Qaeda.
Ando appealed to citizens to stay vigilant in the wake of new reports that terrorists may be plotting new attacks in Mindanao in southern Philippines.
Israel has banned its citizens from traveling to Mindanao because of extreme terror threats.
The foiled bombing coincided with the announcement of the Philippine military that new contingent of US soldiers are arriving anytime soon in Mindanao to replace those who were ending their tour of duty in the troubled, but mineral-rich region.
Both the Jemaah Islamiya and the Abu Sayyaf are included in the terror lists of the United States and Washington has offered up to $10 million reward for the capture of Indonesian bomb-maker Dulmatin and his companion Umar Patek, who are said to be hiding in Mindanao.
Dulmatin, the Philippine military said, was almost captured in May in the remote southern province of Tawi-Tawi, but troops did not recognize him.
However, four of his children were captured by the soldiers and later deported to Indonesia. (Mindanao Examiner)
1 comment:
It is ironic that indeed the Philippine govt and people paid for the plane fares back to Indonesia of Mrs. Dulmatin and his progeny, a fact I am sure he was counting on.
We are still a more decent country and civilization than the one he is trying to establish by things he does in places like Bali and that moral superiority is our true victory over him and his ilk. And one of these days, Filipinos will end his reign of terror.
Post a Comment