Cotabato town on heightened alert after bombing attempt

Travelers were stranded for more than 4 hours following the discovery of an improvised bomb at a checkpoint in Barangay Inug-ug of Pikit town, Cotabato on Thursday. (Photo by WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA / Inquirer Mindanao)

PIKIT, Cotabato, Philippines — Security forces in this town are on heightened alert after a bombing attempt at a checkpoint manned by military and police personnel on Thursday.

Maj. Maxim Peralta, chief of the Pikit Municipal Police Station, said police officers discovered an improvised bomb hanging from an outpost near a checkpoint in Barangay Inug-ug at around 7 a.m.

This prompted them to temporarily close the national highway to vehicular traffic while the bomb was seized and defused.

The road closure led to a heavy buildup of vehicles and delayed travel between Cotabato and Davao cities.

Personnel from the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit based in Kidapawan City took two hours to arrive here due to the hampered flow of vehicles.

Lt. Yolindo Ypon, EOD unit head, said the improvised bomb was composed of a remote frequency receiver, a 9-volt battery, Christmas lights, a soy sauce plastic container, several concrete nails, and gun powder.

Vehicles were allowed to pass after some four hours when the bomb had already been defused.

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