Suspicious baggage alarms folk in Lamitan City, Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (April 1) — Police explosives and ordnance experts disposed a baggage suspected to contain an explosive that was found along the highway in Lamitan City, Basilan on Saturday afternoon.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Arlan Delumpines, Lamitan police chief said they received a call from concerned citizens regarding an unattended baggage wrapped with blue plastic cellophane and with an attached wire.

This prompted Delumpines to dispatch a team of explosives and ordnance experts headed by Cpl. Jessie Lapawon.

When disrupted, the baggage contained a laptop battery, volt meter and wires.

The baggage was found along the highway of Barangay Ubit.

Delumpines said they have tightened the security watch in the city and Basilan in general in preparation for the observance of Holy Week when Catholics are expected to visit churches and chapels.

Last March 22, at around 9:20 p.m., Lamitan folk were shaken when they heard a loud explosion in Sitio Darussalam of Matibay village. But Delumpines said the explosion was made of low type firecrackers and the handiwork of errant boys.