Security forces foil new bombing attempt in Jolo

MANILA, Philippines — Security forces foiled another attempt to bomb Jolo in Sulu province on Sunday, only 26 days after twin bombings that killed 14 people and hurt 75 others last Aug. 24.

The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said on Sunday that coast guardsmen found a package containing explosives at a part of the Jolo pier between the offices of the harbor master and the maritime police at Barangay Walled City.

Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said personnel of the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) explosives and ordnance division (EOD) were conducting paneling operations at the pier when they stumbled upon the package a little past 6 p.m. on Saturday.

According to Vinluan, a careful inspection of the package revealed it contained a rifle grenade, two electric blasting caps, a spark plug and concrete nails.

Troops of the 35th infantry battalion were immediately deployed to cordon off the area while an EOD team from the Sulu provincial police office and personnel from the Jolo police station responded to the site. The improvised explosive device was promptly disarmed and safely disposed.

Vinluan said the discovery of the bomb was a result of the “intensified intelligence operations and the strengthened collaboration with the police and other security agencies, thus preempting the terrorists from executing their terror plan.”

He commended troopers under the Joint Task Force Sulu and bade them, “Remain steadfast in accomplishing your mission.”

For his part, Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. William Gonzales commended his men and other security personnel for foiling the bombing, saying, “You saved the lives of the innocent people and foiled this terroristic activity of our heartless enemies.”