Army, PNP foil bombing try in Cotabato City, extortion eyed

COTABATO CITY–Army and police explosives and ordnance experts defused on Thursday dawn two improvised explosive devices (IED) left near the main gate of Husky Bus terminal here.

Colonel Querubin Manalang Jr., Cotabato City police director, said the plastic bag containing the IED and a secondary bomb contained in a plastic container were found at about 3:40 a.m. by one of the porters who quickly informed a security guard who relayed the information to the police.

Manalang said one IED was made of flash powder and cut concrete nails as shrapnel with a mobile phone as a blasting mechanism while the other IED was fashioned from a rocket propelled grenade and mobile phone as triggering device.

The bomb disposal unit also found and deactivated another improvised bomb left near the terminal’s concrete fence located along the national highway in Barangay Rosary Heights 10.

Manalang said the planting of IEDs could be part of the terrorists’ extortion activities against Husky Bus.

Manalang lauded the alert civilian who first discovered the IED and alerted the security guard who in turn alerted the police.

Manalang said an investigation of the incident is ongoing.

The bombing attempt came while Cotabato City is hosting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Athletic Association Meet 2023.

Manalang assured the BARMMAA 2023 delegates that the police, backed by Philippine Marines, are working to prevent a similar incident from happening.

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