3 men transporting explosives nabbed at Cotabato checkpoint

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Three men on board a truck were arrested at a checkpoint here at past noon Tuesday when Marine soldiers and policemen found materials for an improvised explosive device hidden among sacks of rice and a motorcycle that had no license plate, security officials said.

Superintendent Roberto Badian, city police chief, said seized from three persons were two rocket-propelled grenades, flashlights, batteries, electrical wiring and the motorcycle loaded in the truck with their cargo of palay.

Colonel Dorotheo Jalandoni, 7th Marine Battalion Landing Team, said his men and members of the Philippine National Police manning the Esteros checkpoint became suspicious when the men appeared restless while the sacks were being checked.

Badian said the Marine-PNP team grew more suspicious when an inspection of the motorcycle showed it had no license plate.

“When checked, they found two RPG tubes,” Badian told reporters.

Jalandoni said the three men were undergoing interrogation at the Marines checkpoint. He said that prior to the discovery there were intelligence reports that an IED will be transported to the city.

“They refused to talk, they refused to answer questions, but one claimed he is from Iligan City,” Badian said of the men, adding that the driver claimed to be from Maguindanao and denied knowledge about his cargo.

The truck was parked atop the Esteros Bridge, causing heavy traffic along the highway until authorities could move the vehicle.

The Marines and policemen also seized the three men’s mobile phones and are now the subject of investigation to determine the persons they were talking to before they were flagged down.

The discovery of the explosive materials came eight days after a powerful improvised explosive device went off in Tacurong City, killing Maguindanao board member Russman Sinsuat Sr. and a bystander. Six others were hurt. Authorities said the target of the car bomb was Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu.