2 injured in IED blast in Cotabato

By: Bong Lozada - 11 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in a water district office in Kabacan, Cotabato Wednesday evening, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines look at the incident as another handiwork of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The explosion wounded a security guard and a 16-year-old boy, though injuries were minor.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman for the 6th infantry disposal, said the 7th infantry battalion cordoned off the area while officers from the Explosive Ordnance Division tried to defuse the bomb, but it exploded during the process.

He added that an unattended bag was reported to them by a civilian.

“The IED went off prematurely, though the EOD officers were wearing bomb suits which protected them from the blast,” Hermoso said.

Hermoso said that the recent explosion was the handiwork of the BIFF in the area.

“What they are doing right now is terrorism; their targets are soft targets, not the military. They can’t do any damage on armored vehicles,” Hermoso said.