Army foils bombing try, suspect blows up motorbike in Maguindanao

Police and bomb experts inspect what remains of a motorbike rigged with explosives and set off by the bomber along a highway in Maguindanao Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 5, 2019. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO – A suspicious man on a motorbike had avoided a military checkpoint along the national highway and left his explosives-rigged motorbike by the roadside to explode, a military spokesperson said.

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, the spokesperson of the 6th ID, said soldiers were conducting checkpoints along the national highway in Maguindanao on Tuesday when a suspected bomber took a U-turn and left his motorbike, by a roadside in Sitio Nes Talayan at past noon on Tuesday.

Minutes after the man left, it exploded, Encinas said.

He said the man was heading to Datu Odin Sinsuat, also in Maguindanao, at past noon.

But upon seeing soldiers inspecting the “U-box” of motorcycles, the man stopped and turned around.

“He was speeding but seeing soldiers checking all motorbikes carefully, he took a U-turn and left his motorbike beside the highway,” Encinas told the Inquirer.

Encinas said Army bomb experts confirmed the motorbike was rigged with an improvised explosive device. It could have been triggered by a mobile phone.

The bombing attempt could be in retaliation to the military offensive against IS linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Encinas believed.

Eight BIFF members were killed during air strikes in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao on Saturday./lzb/ac