Military detonates bomb in Maguindanao town

COTABATO CITY — The military on Monday detonated a powerful improvised explosive device fashioned from a 60-millimeter mortar found along the national highway in the town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao.

Maguindanao is one of the provinces identified as an area of concern by the Commission on Elections.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the bomb was successfully detonated at around 2:00 a.m.

“The military and police are on top of the security situation. A total of five brigades supported by police are posted across the province.”

“Intimidation has been reported, but we hope that we can finish the election peacefully, that no major untoward incident will arise.”