4 bombs defused in Kudarat capital

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Bomb disposal operatives safely defused yesterday morning four bombs planted in a motorcycle parked along the national highway in Isulan, the capital town of Sultan Kudarat province.

The four bombs, composed of two 60-mm mortars and two 81-mm mortar shells, rigged with black chords attached to the motorcycle’s engine and gasoline tank, were defused by the province’s Explosive Ordnance and Detection team led by M/Sgt. Ferdinand de la Cruz within 30 minutes.

Superintendent Roel Surmese, Isulan police chief, said the motorcycle was parked in front of an eatery in a portion of the Isulan-Cotabato City Highway where vehicles going to Maguindanao and Cotabato City would slow down.

Reports said the bombs were discovered minutes after the convoy of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu passed by.

Mangudadatu was headed to the massacre site in Maguindanao for the third-year commemorative rites yesterday.

Military officials were not discounting the possible involvement of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror group with links to al-Qaeda, in the foiled bombing.