Troops foil bomb plot in Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Philippines - Government troops foiled a plot of the Abu Sayyaf group to detonate powerful improvised bombs in the city, a security official said.

Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of the Joint Task Group Basilan (JTGB), said the Abu Sayyaf group attempted to slip three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) through a red multi-cab but was intercepted about 5 a.m. in a checkpoint at Barangay Bohe Suyah, Ungkaya Pukan town.

He said the troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion manning the checkpoint flagged down the suspicious vehicle. The driver immediately fled the area.

The authorities recovered three IEDs fashioned from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks inside the vehicle.

Personnel of the explosive and ordnance disposal team arrived and defused the bomb.

Bautista said the troops have encountered the Abu Sayyaf militants before who attempted to detonate the improvised bombs.

According to him, a firefight between the soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf members ensued for five minutes, forcing the militants to retreat and escape towards unknown directions.

Police and military said they believe the militants were trying to slip the deadly bombs in populated areas in this province.

Two days earlier, an improvised bomb exploded in the city. Four were killed while 11 others were wounded in the incident.

Investigators said they initially believe the bombing aimed to target the convoy of Isabela City Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon, who survived the blast unscathed.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ricardo Marquez, who was in Zamboanga City, said they are investigating the incident to identify the culprits and determine the real motive behind the bombing.