AFP: Bomb explodes, 2 more IEDs found in Sultan Kudarat
No one hurt in blast
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:19:00 09/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) An improvised explosive devise (IED) exploded in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and two more unexploded IEDs were discovered in Takurong City in the same province Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, Jr. said.
No casualties and only minimal damage was reported in the explosion near the entrance to a market in Isulan 4:30 a.m., Torres said.
Major Armand Rico, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said a garbage collector found the bomb and reported this immediately to authorities.
However, there was a “premature explosion” before Army and police Explosive and Ordinance Division (EOD) experts arrived, Rico added.
The explosives in Takurong were found by patrolling members of Task Force Talakubong, the military unit set up to augment local police.
The first bomb, fashioned from two 81-millimeter mortar rounds with two blasting caps and connected to a Nokia 3310 cellular phone was been left outside the Julsom bakery in front of the Tamundong Hospital while the second was placed in a box that was abandoned at the corner of the Alunar Highway and Malvar Street.
Those who planted the bombs apparently intended to detonate these simultaneously during rush hour for maximum casualties and damage, Rico said.
The bombs were detonated by Army and police bomb experts, he said.
Torres said the military is looking at the possibility the explosives were planted by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters led by wanted commanders Ameril Ombra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo.
Kato and Macapaar are accused of leading their men in attacks on civilian communities in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte last month and are the target of continuing military operations.
"We have information that the [rebels under Kato and Macapaar] may resort to such guerilla tactics like bombing," Torres said.
Earlier, the AFP confirmed that the fighter led by Kato and Macapaar have splintered into smaller groups.
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