2 soldiers killed in Basilan blast

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 19, 2010) – Two government soldiers were killed in a landmine explosion Friday in the troubled province of Basilan in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said one soldier was also wounded in the blast. The soldiers were searching for two kidnapped Chinese nationals in the village of Pamatsaken in Sumisip town when they tripped on the mine.

It was the second attack on soldiers this week after Abu Sayyaf militants also opened fire on a military post in Sumisip town on Monday.

“Two of our soldiers were killed and another is wounded in the blast. It is believed the landmine was planted by the Abu Sayyaf,” said First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, are holding Zi Shun Lu, 51; alias Oscar Lu; and Bo Shung Tan alias Michael Tan, 27, both from Guangzhou, China. The foreigners were kidnapped November 10 from a plywood factory in Basilan’s Maluso town along with a Filipino worker, Mark Singson, who was later beheaded after his employer Hi-Tech Wood Craft Corporation and family failed to pay ransom.

It was unknown whether the Abu Sayyaf was behind the latest attack on soldiers, but the militants are actively operating in the province. The Abu Sayyaf is demanding fifteen million pesos for the release of the two Chinese men, who are both illegally staying in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

The two foreigners were previously reported to be Filipino citizens, but later investigations revealed they are Chinese nationals and probably illegal workers hired by George Tan, owner of the plywood factory. The fate of the hostages is unknown.

Police said about 20 gunmen disguised as soldiers raided the factory and seized the trio.

Last year, Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan freed six kidnapped government teachers after private negotiators paid millions of pesos in ransom. The teachers Noemi Mandi, Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion were released in separate places in the towns of Tipo-Tipo and Ungkaya Pukan.

The trio was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Naga town and brought to Basilan where they had been held captive.

Three other state teachers Janette de los Reyes, Freires Quizon and Rafael Mayonado, all kidnapped in Zamboanga City, were also brought to Basilan and freed four months later after private negotiators ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

But a faction of the Abu Sayyaf last year also beheaded a school principal, Gabriel Canizares, in nearby Sulu province after his family failed to raise two million pesos ransom. His head was found at a petrol station in the capital town of Jolo. (Mindanao Examiner)

Blast kills boy, 2 others wounded as President Arroyo visits Mindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 17, 2010) – An improvised bomb exploded Wednesday as President Gloria Arroyo inspected troops in the volatile region of the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the blast killed a nine-year old Tata Palao and wounded two children in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province where Arroyo visited.

The children were getting firewood in the village of Kabingi at around 11: 45 a.m. when Palao stepped on the mine, said Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Hao, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Hao said the boy did not reach the hospital alive. He said the bomb was believed planted by Moro rebels a long time ago. “The IED was believed planted by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels a long time ago,” Hao told the Mindanao Examiner.

Arroyo inspected soldiers at an army base in the province as part of her visitation in Mindanao. The President is to step down in June after her term ends, but is also seeking a congressional seat in her hometown in Pampanga province in Luzon Island.

The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is currently negotiating peace with Manila. The explosion also occurred just as a team of international truce observers arrived in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Bomb explodes near Basilan mayor's house

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 19, 2010) - An improvised explosive was detonated late Tuesday near the house of a local mayor in Basilan province in the southern Philippines, reports said.

Reports said the bomb went off several meters from the house of Lamitan City mayor Roderick Furigay. No group or individual claimed responsibility for the blast, but Basilan is hotbed of Abu Sayyaf terrorism.

It was unknown if the Abu Sayyaf, tagged by the military and police in previous bombings, was involved in the latest attack. But police said three days before the blast, the Abu Sayyaf headed by Furiji Indama, threatened to detonate bombs and stage kidnappings-for-ransom in Lamitan.

Security officials did not say what kind of explosive was used in the attack or whether the mayor was the target of the bombing. The attack occurred on the eve of the mayor's annual state of the city address.

"Bomb experts are still trying to determine the kind of explosive used in the attack," said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, the provincial police chief. "We have stepped security in Lamitan and other parts of the province; there are more checkpoints and roadblocks and added foot patrol, especially at night."

He said villagers saw two men on a motorcycle fleeing the area before the blast. "We have witnesses who saw two young men on a motorcycle fleeing before the explosion," he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Security forces were fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan, whose group authorities said is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terror networks. (Mindanao Examiner)

Bomb defused in southern Philippine city

Explosive experts defused an improvised explosive planted at a waiting shed along the national highway in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines on Friday, July 24, 2009. Early this month, a bomb explosion ripped through a stall selling roasted pig outside a Catholic church in Cotabato City. Six people were killed in the blast. The spate of deadly bombings in the Philippines were blamed by authorities to Moro rebels and the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya which was tagged as behind the attacks on JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta recently. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 24, 2009) - Military bomb experts have defused late Friday an improvised explosive planted at a waiting shed in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the bomb was believed planted by Moro rebels. The discovery of the explosive came a day after President Gloria Arroyo ordered the military to halt offensives against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country's largest Muslim rebel group fighting the past three decades for self-determination.

Early this month, a bomb explosion ripped through a stall selling roasted pig outside a Catholic church in Cotabato City. Six people were killed in the blast.

The spate of deadly bombings in the Philippines were blamed by authorities to Moro rebels and the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya which was tagged as behind the attacks on JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta recently. (With a report from Mark Navales)

Police disarm bomb planted in bus in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 4, 2009) – Police disarmed an improvised explosive planted in a commuter bus in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, reports said Saturday.

Reports said a boy cleaning the bus discovered the explosive under a seat late Friday and told police about the bomb. The explosive resembled a pipe bomb and attached to batteries and timer, a report by the ABS-CBN said.

“The boy was alarmed to see batteries and wires sticking out of the package, prompting him to call the police. Elements of the Zamboanga Bomb Squad confirmed that the plastic bag contained an improvised explosive device, which they quickly dismantled,” the report quoted Chief Inspector Diomarie Albarico, of the local police force, as saying.

Police said the bus came from Pagadian City.

Zamboanga City had been previously bombed by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who are fighting for a separate Muslim homeland. (Mindanao Examiner)

Homemade bomb discovered in Mindanao port

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 25, 2009) – Philippine authorities said it disarmed an improvise explosive planted at a busy port in the restive region of Mindanao where security forces are battling insurgents and terrorism.

Security forces disarmed the explosive discovered on Sunday near a ferry ticketing office in the port of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte province. The bomb was made from chemical fertilizers banned in the Philippines and packed with nails.

No group claimed responsibility for the foiled bombing, but military forces are battling Moro and communist insurgents fighting for separate homelands in Mindanao.

It was unknown whether the two groups were involved in the failed attack or if it was the handiwork of extortionists.

Previous bombings had been largely blamed to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants and the larger rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, although the New People’s Army was also implicated in several attacks on private corporations refusing to pay illegal taxes.

More than 100 people were killed in Abu Sayyaf bombing of a ferry in 2004 on Manila Bay. It was the worst maritime attack in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Troops recover IED in Maguindanao province in Southern Philippines

Members of the Army’s Explosive Disposal Detachment and 46th Infantry Battalion briefly closed a highway in Maguindanao’s Talayan town after two improvised explosives assembled from 81mm mortars and attached to a cell phone were discovered on Monday, May 04, 2009 in the village of Midtimbang. Government troops are pursuing Moro rebels for the string of attacks in Maguindanao, one of five province under the Muslim autonomous region. (Photos contributed by Captain Francis Senoron / Caption by Ferdinand Cabrera – Mindanao Examiner)

Bomb explodes in Mindanao

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Homemade bombs detonated in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 9, 2009) – Police detonated Monday improvised explosives planted in two areas in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

No groups claimed responsibility in the foiled attacks in the villages of Guiwan and Culianan. One explosive was left on a road near a bus depot in Guiwan and the other on an abandoned building in Culianan.

Police said civilians discovered the bombs and informed authorities about the explosives. “The bomb left on a road in Guiwan was powerful,” one police bomb expert said.

In January, policemen also disarmed a powerful improvised explosive assembled from an 81-mm mortar left near the same bus terminal.

Last year, a series of bombings blamed on the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front were also reported in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Homemade bomb explodes prematurely in southern Philippines

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2009) – A blasting rigged to a powerful improvised explosive went off prematurely Monday night in Kidapawan City in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato, officials said.

Officials said there were no casualties in the explosion and soldiers recovered an 81-mm mortar bomb left at a public square near a row of commercial establishments. “The blasting cap exploded; however, the main charge, an 81-mm mortar, did not detonate,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the mortar was rigged to a cell phone designed to detonate the bomb.

Ponce blamed the foiled attacked to the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is fighting for self-determination the past three decades now.

“This terrorist act is perpetrated by the MILF to sow terror in central Mindanao,” he said without further elaborating.

It was unknown whether there were pieces of evidence that linked the MILF to the failed bombing. But the MILF blamed unnamed politicians as behind the failed bombing, saying, it was aimed to discredit the rebel group.

“Authorities should investigate this (foiled bombing) thoroughly because this could be a scenario perpetrated by politicians opposed to the peace process and the MILF,” Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said in a separate interview.

North Cotabato was among the provinces included in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, which opposed the government’s Muslim homeland deal with the MILF in August last year.

The Supreme Court ruled the deal was illegal. The accord would have granted homeland to some four million Muslims across more than 700 villages in Mindanao. (With a repor from Geo Solmerano)

Philippine troops foil bomb attack in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Al Jacinto / Feb. 12, 2009) – Philippine soldiers and policemen disrupted an improvised explosive planted in downtown Cotabato City in Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said civilians discovered the bomb late Wednesday along Sinsuat Avenue and was immediately disrupted by authorities. The explosive was assembled from a 60mm mortar bomb rigged to a cell phone.

No group claimed responsibility for the failed attack, but the military blamed rogue members of the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as behind the foiled bombing.

“Who else could do such an act, but terrorists,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Ponce said the bomb was left near the Las Hermanas restaurant.

The MILF denied any hand in the failed bombing. “Why blame us for everything? We are for peace and the MILF has cease-fire agreement with the Philippine government and we have no reason to resort to violence,” Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said.

Authorities have previously blamed the MILF for the spate of bombings and attacks on civilian and government targets after the failed signing of a Muslim homeland deal in August last year that resulted in the collapse of the peace talks.

Although a fragile truce is still holding between government and rebel forces, sporadic fighting had been reported the past months. Manila said it would resume peace talks with the MILF, but rebel leaders insist that the government honors the homeland deal it initially signed in July in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, which is brokering the peace talks, previously accused Manila of delaying the negotiations. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police disarm IED near Zamboanga City bus depot

Philippine policemen disarmed a powerful improvised explosive Thursday, January 1, 2009 left near a commuter bus depot in Zamboanga City in Mindanao Island. The discovery of the bomb came a day after an explosion in General Santos City left 22 people wounded.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 1, 2008) – Philippine policemen on Thursday disarmed a powerful improvised explosive left near a commuter bus depot in Zamboanga City.

“It was powerful enough to inflict serious damage and casualties had it exploded,” said one bomb expert, who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

He said the explosive was assembled from an 81-millimeter mortar bomb and connected to a clock. The bomb was left in the village of Guiwan, several meters from the bus depot which was heavily guarded by policemen and soldiers.

The explosive was discovered by residents at around 9 a.m. and informed the police about it.

The mortar bomb, he said, is probably brand new. “It’s probably new. It is clean and still had that warning label. We don’t know who was behind this failed bombing,” he said.

No group or individual claimed ownership of the bomb, but its discovery came a day after a grenade explosion in General Santos City left more than two dozen people injured.

Officials said the explosion occurred at a park at around 10 p.m. At least 22 people were wounded in the attack, said Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, of the Task Force Gensan.

He said an unidentified man hurled the grenade to a crowd at the park. "At least 22 people are wounded in the grenade explosion and they have been rushed to hospitals," he said.

An improvised bomb also exploded late Tuesday in a motorcycle taxi near a police checkpoint, killing its driver and wounding an officer in the village of Saliao in Sultan Kudarat's Esperanza town.

The improvised explosive, assembled from 81-millimeter mortar bomb, was inside a sack full of charcoal when it went off while the policeman was inspecting the vehicle. Officials said faulty bomb assembly had triggered the explosion. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine soldiers disarm IEDs planted inside commuter bus

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 23, 2008) – Philippine soldiers on Tuesday disarmed two improvised explosives planted inside a commuter bus in Pagadian City in the Mindanao province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said.

Officials said the explosives were assembled from 60 millimeter mortar bombs attached to a timing device. The bombs, placed inside a cardboard box and left under a seat, was discovered by the bus conductor.

No group or individuals claimed ownership of the explosives, but its discovery came four days after two mortar bombs were detonated in two shopping stores in Iligan City by suspected Moro rebels that killed two people and wounded at least 48 others.

Lt. Steffani Cacho, a regional army spokeswoman, appealed to the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious persons or bags left unattended in places where there are many people.

“We should stay vigilant and report all suspicious-looking bags or persons to authorities,” she said, adding, they have reports that terrorists may be planning attacks in key cities in Mindanao.

An improvised explosive was also discovered on Friday and Sunday in Iligan City and both bombs were made from 81 millimeter mortar shells covered in papaya. (Mindanao Examiner)

Photo: Army launches bomb awareness campaign in Southern RP

Philippine soldiers from the 104th Infantry Brigade led by Captains Alonto Maamo and Julakmad Muhalli speak to civilians Monday, December 22, 2008 in Iligan City in Mindanao as part of a bomb awareness campaign. The Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace also participated in the endeavor with Violeta Gloria, among others, helped in explaining the necessity of vigilance for the safety of the civilians. These were done in malls, markets, streets, and passenger bus and jeep terminals. The soldiers also distributed leaflets explaining how to detect improvised explosives, says Briagdier Benito de Leon.

Bomb found in Iligan City hours after President Arroyo's visit

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 19, 2008) – Security forces recovered Friday an improvised explosive in the southern Philippine city of Iligan, hours after President Gloria Arroyo left the area, officials said.

Officials said the improvised explosive, assembled from 81mm mortar, was concealed in a hollowed papaya and put inside a net bag and left at the Delecta Coffee and Bakeshop near where two bombs went off on Thursday.

The bomb was discovered at around 4 p.m. by an employee and reported the matter to the police. The bag was left by two men who had a snack at the coffee shop.

Arroyo flew to Iligan City a day after two powerful bomb explosions killed two people and wounding at least 48 others. She arrived at around 9:30 a.m. from Bukidnon province where she also visited.

She condoled with the families of the two killed in Thursday bombing of two shopping centers – Uni City Commercial Center and Jerry's Bargain Center, which authorities earlier referred as Jerry's Supermart.

Arroyo, accompanied by Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and Rep. Vicente Belmonte, spoke with Jinky Suico, the pregnant widow of Erwin Suico, a store clerk; and Elray Badelles, the brother of Jonas Badelles, who were both killed in the blasts.

She also gave P50,000 burial assistance to the families of Suico and Badelles. Arroyo also visited those injured in the hospital and distributed envelopes containing P30,000 to the blast victims. Arroyo left at around noontime.

No groups or individual claimed responsibility for the attacks, but authorities blamed rogue factions in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as behind the twin bombings, but the country's largest Muslim rebel group denied the accusations.

"We have nothing to do with the bombings. The MILF is not a terrorist organization and we condemned the attacks in Iligan City," said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader.

Peace talks between Manila and the MILF collapsed in August after the failed signing of the Muslim ancestral domain agreement. (Mindanao Examiner)

Bangladeshi al-Qaeda bomb expert arrested in the Philippines

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 2, 2008) – Philippine authorities arrested a Bangladeshi al-Qaeda bomb expert after soldiers and police commandos raided his hideout in Mindanao, where security forces are battling Moro rebels.

Security forces arrested Muhammad Alpariz in the village called Tapayan in Sultan Mastura in Shariff Kabunsuan, one of six provinces of the Muslim autonomous region, police sources told the Mindanao Examiner.

Sources said only Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio, Jr., head of one of two newly created Directorates for Integrated Police Operations in Mindanao, is authorized to speak about Alpariz’s arrest.

Regional police officials also declined to give details about the arrest of the foreigner, but said the operation that led to the capture of Alpariz involved “many soldiers and policemen.”

No other details were made available about the foreigner, but sources from the army said troops recovered from Alpariz’s hideout improvised explosives assembled from mortar bombs and blasting caps, including cellular phones and an alarm clock.

Television giant GMA 7, which quoted unnamed sources, reported that Alpariz is a bomb expert and a member of the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya.

It said Alpariz was arrested at about 3 p.m. at his rented shop in Tapayan village.

“Alpariz is described by authorities as an expert in making improvised explosive devices,” it reported.

It said security forces recovered four improvised 60mm and 81mm mortar shells, a 1.5-volt battery, an alarm clock, a cellular phone, a computer set, two boosters for mortar, two electric blasting caps and detonating cords.

Alpariz was immediately brought to Davao City where he is being interrogated.

It was not immediately known if Alpariz was working alone or whether he had links with either the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels or the smaller, but the most violent group called the Abu Sayyaf which authorities claimed had connections with the al-Qaeda and the Jemaah Islamiya.

Alpariz’s capture coincided with sporadic fighting between the MILF and military forces in the southern Philippines. The MLF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for self-determination in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)

Improvised bomb defused in Mindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 4, 2008) – Philippine Army bomb experts defused an improvised bomb left on a road where patrolling troops frequently pass, government media reported on Tuesday.

The Philippine Information Agency said the explosive, assembled from an 81mm mortar bomb, was discovered by civilians late Mon day afternoon in the village of Salman in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in the restive Maguindanao province.

Provincial and town officials did not give any statement, but Col. Marlou Salazar, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade quickly put the blame on rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for self-determination.

Witnesses said they saw two men, both sporting long hair, left the bomb on the road. (Mindanao Examiner)

Troops disarm roadside bombs in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 14, 2008) – Philippine soldiers disarmed Tuesday two powerful roadside bombs planted by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in the restive Muslim autonomous province of Maguindanao, officials said.

Officials said the explosives, assembled from 90mm and 81mm mortar bombs, were left on a highway near the village of Magaslong in Datu Piang town where military patrols frequently pass.

“Members of the army’s explosive ordnance team disarmed the improvise explosives believed planted by MILF rebels,” said Major Armand Rico, a regional army spokesman.

He said the mortar bombs were connected to radio transceivers used as a firing device to trigger explosion. “This technology the rebels are using must have come from the New People’s Army which is notoriously known in using landmines in attacking military targets,” he said.

Rico was referring to the NPA, the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, accused by the military of using anti-personnel landmines which is banned around the world under the Geneva Conventions, in carrying out attacks against security forces.

”The use (of landmines) is banned around the world, but the NPA continue to use such explosives, and now the MILF rebels which threatens the safety of innocent civilians,” he said.

Aside from the Geneva Conventions, the 1997 Ottawa Convention, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty prohibits of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer or anti-personnel mines and on their destruction.

Rico said the MILF rebels got its technology in the manufacture of landmines from the NPA, which has been fighting the government the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

The Philippine Army said the MILF have forged an alliance with the NPA as early as 1999. The alliance covers among others the exchange of information, sharing of training, manufacture of arms and ammunition, particularly rocket-propelled grenades.

Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the Army's Civil-Military Operations Group, said this explains why the Mindanao-based NPA rebels were reported to have used anti-tank rockets, loaned by the MILF, in battling government soldiers.

He said there were many occasions that MILF forces had disrupted military operations against the NPA in the past.

“What is more revealing in this alliance is the deafening silence and refusal of the CPP-NPA-NDF and its allied organizations to condemn the terror acts perpetrated by the MILF rebels (in recent attacks in Mindanao),” he said.

The MILF, which is fighting for a separate Muslim homeland, admitted forging an alliance with the NPA, which has been waging a secessionist war for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Soldiers Detonate Powerful IED In Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 26, 2008) – The Philippine military detonated Friday a powerful homemade bomb in Lamitan City in the southern province of Basilan, officials said Friday.

Officials said the bomb was left near a grocery store in downtown Lamitan and detonated by soldiers late Thursday. The blast was so powerful that it damaged the steel shutter of the store and wounded one person who was hit by shrapnel.

The explosion left a shallow crater more than a meter wide on the road where the improvised explosive, constructed with a cellular phone, was detonated.

Officials said the bomb was assembled from TNT and the cell phone as an initiator to set off explosion. Instead of the phone ringing, it sends the power to a blasting cap.
“Mayor Roderick Furigay has appealed to residents to stay calm and vigilant,” his executive assistant, Nick Castro, said.

Castro said the foiled bombing coincided with the celebration of the tourism week in Lamitan.
“It is sad to think that while we are working hard to promote tourism and bring peace in the land, there are bad people who will always try to destroy efforts like this, but despite the incident, our celebration will continue,” he said.

No group claimed responsibility for the foiled attack, but Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are active in Basilan and have been implicated in the spate of terrorism and kidnappings on the province.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding two aid workers, Esperancita Hupida and Millet Mendoza, they kidnapped Sept. 15 in Tipo-Tipo town. Hupida is the program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation, while Mendoza is a humanitarian worker. The gang demanded as much as P15 million ransoms for the victims’ safe release. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Military Disarms MILF Explosive Planted Near Mindanao School

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