IED found, defused by gov’t troops in North Cotabato town

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – An improvised explosive device was recovered and defused by government forces in the town of Kabacan, North Cotabato, on Tuesday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, said a resident reported a suspicious-looking package left outside the Simuay Hardware in Sitio Lotte, Barangay Kayaga, at around 11:40 a.m.

“Kabacan PNP and troops from the 7th Infantry Battalion immediately cordoned the area where the package was found,” Petinglay said, adding that the bomb squad successfully defused the improvised explosive device two hours later.

Local authorities have started an investigation to identify the perpetrators and the motive behind the failed attack.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza condemned the bombing attempt and hailed the alert residents who immediately reported the find to the police.

“The discovery of an alleged improvised explosive device (IED) in Kabacan, Cotabato, though causing panic among civilians, is proof that people are now more vigilant especially in reporting to our authorities. Be a force multiplier. Let’s maintain this level of cooperation and support to our law enforcers. Together, we can win the quest for peace and development in Cotabato,” Mendoza said.

On Sunday, a bomb factory inside a 3-hectare rebel camp was discovered by government forces deep inside the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao.

The camp was reportedly used by a new and smaller group led by former Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement vice chair for political affairs Mohammad Ali Tambako.

Tambako was expelled from the rebel group for alleged excesses in his leadership including the beheading of two persons in North Cotabato in 2013.

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