Troops recover IED in Jolo town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 31, 2009) – Government soldiers have recovered an improvised explosive in the southern Philippine town of Jolo, where a homemade bomb exploded and wounded two army engineers over the weekend, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Monday.

Major Ramon David Hontiveros, a spokesman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said the improvised explosive device was found near the Jolo airport an hour after a bomb went off at around 7 p.m. on Sunday.

“The bomb was detonated safely,” he said.

Hontiveros said the military is still investigating the type of explosive used in the attack and the second that was recovered. “We are still determining what type of explosive was used in the attack,” he said.

Hontiveros said a marine convoy passing near the area was likely the target of the explosion.

“Initial investigation revealed that the target of the attack was the convoy of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 which had just left Kampo Heneral Teofilo Bautista en route to Mount Datu. The IED exploded 75 meters in front of the lead vehicle of convoy,” he said.

No individuals or group has claimed responsibility for the failed attack, but Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, a regional military commander, blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the explosion in Jolo.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed by the police and military for the spate of kidnappings for ransom and terrorism in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)