Terrorists’ attempt at ‘bloody Good Friday’ foiled

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government security forces foiled a terrorist attempt to make Good Friday another bloody day in Isabela City in Basilan, the police said Saturday.

Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, said an improvised explosive device was discovered 9 a.m. Friday a few meters away from Santa Isabel Cathedral.

“It was disrupted successfully and the initial finding is that the explosive is made of TNT, not the usual ANFO [Ammonium Nitrate with Fuel Oil],” he said.

Khu said it was not yet certain if the bomb was intended for church-goers as it was also near the internal revenue office in Isabela City.

He said the identity of the group behind the bombing attempt remained unclear and investigation was still being conducted.