More bombs found in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — Two more improvised explosive devices have been discovered and disposed of in North Cotabato this week, bringing to eight the number of bombs found in the province since New People’s Army rebels attacked the police station in the town of President Roxas last May 20.

The latest find was on Wednesday when civilians noticed a piece of PVC pipe fitted with wires on a bridge in President Roxas, said the town’s mayor,  Jaime Mahimpit. The pipe was packed with gunpowder and pieces of metal.

Mahimpit said the IED was similar to two explosives that were defused near a military detachment in Barangay (village) Greenhills, also in President  Roxas, on Thursday last week, two days after suspected New Peoples’ Army rebels tried but failed to overrun the town’s police station.

“But we are not sure if the NPA was behind the explosive that was found Wednesday,” Mahimpit said.

He said the bomb, whose discovery caused a  traffic jam as authorities prevented motorists from using the bridge for a while, was properly disposed of by bomb experts.

On Tuesday evening, another explosive was found by civilians, who immediately notified the authorities, near a videoke bar in Pikit town.

Superintendent Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato police director, said two men were seen in the area prior to the discovery of the explosive, which was fitted with a cellphone as triggering device.

On Saturday, four explosives were also recovered in Makilala town. The IEDs were planted on the road leading to Barangay Luna Sur.

Colonel Nilo Vinluan, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion, said the military was sure the Makilala explosives were planted by the NPA.

Vinluan said the insurgents might have wanted to retaliate for the deaths of five of their comrades who were killed in May 20 NPA attack on the police station in President Roxas.

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