Military suspects BIFF behind bombing of Bukidnon bus

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

In this photo released by the Maramag Police Station of the Philippine National Police, investigators examine the blood-splattered passenger bus Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at Maramag township, Bukidnon province in southern Philippines, following an explosion late Tuesday. AP Photo/Maramag Police Station of the Philippine National Police

MANILA, Philippines—While they are still awaiting the result of their investigation, the authorities are looking at the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as the possible suspects behind the bombing of a bus in Bukidnon which killed at least 10 people and injured 42 others on Tuesday.

“It’s possible that it’s the BIFF… The bomb identified by the Philippine National Police, it was found out that a signature bomb of the BIFF was used,” Lieutenant General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said on Wednesday.

A separate military source said that based on findings, the bomb used was an 81mm mortar, “which points to the group of a certain Dawtin Gendang of BIFF.”

“Same bomb signature with the IED explosion which happened last October in the same province,” the source said.

The explosion of the Rural Transit bus happened near the Central Mindanao University in Brgy. Muswan in Maramag town at about 5:45 p.m..

The bus was bound for Cagayan de Oro and was coming from Wao in Lanao del Sur.

Last month, four were also wounded in a Rural Transit bus explosion that was passing by Bukidnon.

Baladad said they are still establishing what could be the possible motive behind the recent incident.

The BIFF could either be trying to extort or they are trying “to instill fear,” he said.

The group is also blamed for the series of bombings in Central Mindanao last month.

Baladad said there should also be tighter security in bus inspection.

“Yung mga [baggage] na nilalagay sa mga buses, it should be inspected. Kung may owner ba, meron bang nagke-claim. Kung bumaba ‘yung isa at iniwan ‘yung baggage, those are questionable moves,” Baladad said.

(They should inspect the baggage inside the buses. Do they have an owner? Is someone claiming them? If the owner gets out of the bus and leaves the baggage, that is a questionable move.)

The bus explosion came from a baggage that was left on the bus.