7 soldiers wounded as more blasts hit Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Army and police bomb experts yesterday revealed the car bomb that exploded here Monday was made of ammonium nitrate and petroleum rigged with an improvised remote controlled blasting mechanism.

Police chief Senior Superintendent Rolen Balquin said investigators have the evidence to determine the type of explosive used in the attack.

“Let us just give our scene of crime operatives and the bomb experts helping us enough time to wind up with their task of providing a clearer picture on the incident,” Balquin said.

This developed as another explosion occurred in Midsayap in North Cotabato early yesterday.

Investigators said an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted near the entrance of MLhuillier money remittance outlet in the town proper.

Police said the IED was timed to explode at daytime during office hours but it went off prematurely.

Bomb experts said the IED was fashioned from a 60 mm mortar projectile equipped with a battery-operated blasting device.

No one was reported killed or injured in the bombing, but it triggered panic among residents in the area.

On the other hand, seven soldiers were wounded after their truck was hit by an IED planted along the road in a remote village in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao yesterday.

Later in the afternoon, another bomb exploded on a bridge in Datu Piang, also in Maguindanao.

The bridge, connecting Datu Piang ang Datu Salibo towns in Maguindanao, was partially damaged, officials said. No one was reported hurt.

 On the other hand, the seven soldiers of the Army’s 12th Mechanized Company were riding a KM250 light truck on their way to Shariff Aguak when an IED exploded along the road in Barangay Nabundas.

“The soldiers had just left their detachment when they were hit by a roadside bomb,” police chief Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson said.

“They sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital,” he said.

Officials said the explosion occurred in the same area where suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) had planted several IEDs to harass motorists and villagers.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the BIFF could have planted the bomb the night before.

Hermoso said some villagers told him that the bomb was detonated from a distance using a mobile phone.

The BIFF appeared to have targeted the light truck carrying the soldiers since the IED exploded as the vehicle got close.

The IED attack occurred hours after the bombing attack in Midsayap town.

Regional military commander Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz said the BIFF claimed responsibility for the attack against the soldiers.

Hermoso, however, said it was too early to speculate whether yesterday’s bombing incidents were linked.

The latest incidents happened less than 45 kilometers from Cotabato City, where Monday’s bomb attack occurred.

Police have said the Cotabato bomb attack may have been linked to local politics apparently targeting the sister of the city mayor, who was among the wounded.

Government security forces in central Mindanao have been on full alert since Monday following the car bomb attack in Cotabato City that left eight people dead and several others wounded.

Thirteen of the wounded are still confined in Cotabato City hospital for various medical conditions.

On July 26, another bomb went off at a bistro in Cagayan de Oro, leaving eight dead and many injured.

Prior to the Cotabato City explosion, government troops have been engaging the BIFF in intermittent skirmishes for control of the Cotabato-General Santos highway.

At one point last week, the BIFF, which openly opposes the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), planted bombs along the highway but these were subsequently cleared by troops.

A security official said the focus of investigation now centers on who could be behind the series of blasts in Mindanao.

President Aquino hinted the attacks might have been carried out by groups opposed to the government’s peace talks with the MILF.

The BIFF broke off from the MILF two years ago. The breakaway guerrillas led by ailing commander Ameril Umbra Kato have rejected the talks between the government and the MILF and vowed to continue fighting for a homeland for minority Muslims.

Abu Misri Mammah, a spokesman for Kato’s forces, said his group will continue attacks against government troops.

The military estimates the BIFF has about 200 armed fighters, mostly based in Maguindanao.

Officials believe the rebel faction want to sabotage the Malaysian-brokered peace talks involving the main insurgent group, that have steadily progressed since last year.

Army troops and police have intensified patrols and surveillance. There have been concerns that the BIFF may intensify attacks, including bombings, when the holy Muslim month of Ramadan ends this week.

The rash of bombings came a month after the United States, Australia and Canada warned its diplomatic staff against traveling to Cotabato and two other southern cities on Mindanao – Zamboanga and Davao – over fresh threats of terrorism.

The United Kingdom yesterday issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling in Mindanao following the car bomb explosion in Cotabato City.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups. The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao for the same reasons,” the UK FCO’s travel advisory said.

No suspects yet

At the same time, Balquin clarified the police had yet to take custody of the three suspects in the Cotabato City bombing as declared by Mayor Japal Guiani Jr.

Radio stations here quoted Guiani as saying the authorities have arrested the three bombers who are now undergoing interrogation.

Balquin, however, said they have not arrested anyone involved in the bombing and are still investigating the incident.

“I can assure the public and the media that we shall be very transparent in our effort to resolve this case. We will keep you abreast on all developments regarding our investigation,” Balquin said.

“Let us not be insistent about that report (arrest of the bombers),” he added.

Guiani later claimed he could have been misquoted during the press conference late Tuesday.

In a separate radio interview, Guiani said all he had announced was that they know who are behind the bombing and there are informants helping identify and locate them. – Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Helen Flores, AP