COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 14, 2008) – Philippine authorities foiled a bomb attack Thursday in North Cotabato city of Kidapawan, a day after troops gained control of 15 villages occupied by Muslim rebels, officials said.
Officials said the bomb, assembled from mortar and TNT and nails rigged to a cell phone, was discovered at dawn by civilians at a bus depot. No group claimed responsibility for the foiled attack, but officials said soldiers and policemen were alerted by the discovery of the explosive.
Army and police explosives experts defused the bomb, which was placed inside a bag and abandoned at the bus depot.
“Civilians are now vigilant and cooperating fully with military and police authorities and we urge the public to stay vigilant. We will not allow terrorism to disturb our peace in Mindanao,” Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Troops on Wednesday took control of 15 villages in North Cotabato province after a weeklong battle that left more than two dozen rebels and soldiers dead and wounded and over 160,000 people fleeing their homes.
Authorities blamed previous bombings in North Cotabato to the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and their local counterpart, the Abu Sayyaf and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front, including the al-Khobar gang.
Last year, two bombs exploded in Kidapawan City and killed three people and left dozens wounded. (Mindanao Examiner)
Officials said the bomb, assembled from mortar and TNT and nails rigged to a cell phone, was discovered at dawn by civilians at a bus depot. No group claimed responsibility for the foiled attack, but officials said soldiers and policemen were alerted by the discovery of the explosive.
Army and police explosives experts defused the bomb, which was placed inside a bag and abandoned at the bus depot.
“Civilians are now vigilant and cooperating fully with military and police authorities and we urge the public to stay vigilant. We will not allow terrorism to disturb our peace in Mindanao,” Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Troops on Wednesday took control of 15 villages in North Cotabato province after a weeklong battle that left more than two dozen rebels and soldiers dead and wounded and over 160,000 people fleeing their homes.
Authorities blamed previous bombings in North Cotabato to the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and their local counterpart, the Abu Sayyaf and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front, including the al-Khobar gang.
Last year, two bombs exploded in Kidapawan City and killed three people and left dozens wounded. (Mindanao Examiner)
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