FBI in Zambo for bomb probe
By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 18:52:00 05/31/2008
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation have arrived here to re-evaluate the site of Thursday's blast that killed two people and injured more than 20 others.
This developed as local police bomb experts claimed that the components used in the bomb that ripped through the offices of the US-funded Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (Amore) and of Representative Ma. Isabel Climaco was similar to those used in the 2002 bombings here that killed an American soldier.
Rebecca Thompson, US Embassy information officer, told the Inquirer that the FBI personnel were sent not because Washington was dipping its hands in the investigation but "providing assistance at the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police."
Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, head of the Western Mindanao Regional Explosives and Ordnance Unit (REOU), said Thursday's bomb contained TNT.
He said it was of the same type as the bombs used in the Malagutay and the San Roque attacks in October 2002 and several subsequent explosions here.
"We found out that the debris near the Amore office contained great amount of TNT. The bomb could be about two kilos," Gucela said. The building housing the Amore office lies across the street from Edwin Andrews Air Base in Barangay (village) Sta. Maria here.
But even if the police have already determined the type of explosive used, Gucela said they still could not determine the exact target of the attack.
The bomb, police investigators said, was hidden in the luggage of people waiting to hitch a ride on a C-130 plane for Manila. The plane had just landed and was to fly back to Manila shortly.
Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, Western Mindanao police chief, had said that the bomb might have been meant for the Amore office or the plane itself.
He blamed Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan and the Abu Sayyaf for the attack.
The MILF denounced Caringal for the statement while denying it had a part in the blast.
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