IED identical with those used in Isulan bombings recovered from woman
KORONADAL CITY — The police arrested here Saturday a woman wanted for kidnapping and found in her hideout a powerful improvised explosive device.
Supt. Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-Soccsksargen, said Sunday the IED found in the hideout here of Maria Malaya Fernandez was identical with those militants used in the August 28 and September 2 bombings in nearby Isulan town.
The IED attacks in Isulan, the capital town of Sultan Kudarat province in Soccsksargen, left five people dead and injured almost 50 others.
Personnel of the Koronadal City police led by Supt. Kirby Bajo were only to arrest Fernandez for kidnapping and illegal detention based on a warrant issued by a court in Tacurong City but found an IED and a fragmentation grenade in her hideout as they searched for firearms and drugs.
“An initial examination of the recovered IED indicated that it was a prototype of those the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters used in recent bombings in Region 12,” Gonzalez said.
The BIFF, which operates in the fashion of the Islamic State, was tagged as responsible for the August 28 and September 2 in Isulan.
Gonzalez said Fernandez, now in the custody of the Koronadal City police, shall be charged with possession of an IED and a fragmentation grenade.
Gonzalez said investigators are now trying to confirm the seeming link of Fernandez with the BIFF.
The group has been trying to sabotage the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
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