TERROR TOOLS. Bomb-making components seized in a shanty believed being used by Islamic State followers as a bomb factory in Maguindanao province. PHOTOS FROM ARMY 6TH ID
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao—Government forces in pursuit of Islamic State (IS) followers in Maguindanao province discovered a factory where IS-allied groups were believed to be making land mines and improvised explosive devices, according to the Army.
Soldiers from the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion found the bomb-making components at the village of Salman in Ampatuan town, not far from the site of the infamous Maguindanao massacre in 2009 that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists.
Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said found in a shanty a few kilometers from the national highway were unexploded ordnance, bomb-making ingredients, spent bazooka shells, black powder and a notebook with instructions on making land mines.
The explosive-making area was found by soldiers past noon on Friday (April 25).
A day earlier, a soldier was killed and two others were wounded when one of them stepped on a land mine while conducting a clearing operation at the village of Saniag, also in Ampatuan town.
Lt. Col. Alaric Delos Santos, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said the unexploded ordnance were 105mm and 60mm artillery rounds.
Authorities said they believed the shanty and its surrounding area was where the bombs used in attacking soldiers in past weeks were made.
In the past days, two soldiers had been killed in roadside blasts in Ampatuan town.
Since last month, the Army has resumed a full offensive against Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front, a group that broke off with Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in the mountains of Shariff Aguak, Datu Hofer and Ampatuan towns.