Bomb found in ARMM compound defused

COTABATO City, Philippines—Security forces disposed of an improvised explosive device found by youngsters on Sunday morning, just beside the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center located within the 34-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao offices, authorities reported Sunday.

The discovery came on the heels of Acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Adiong’s memorandum requiring ARMM Cabinet members and bureau chiefs to tender their “courtesy resignations” for a possible revamp.

The Adiong administration was ready to step down to welcome a transition government by would-be officers-in-charge that President Aquino could have appointed on September 30 (when the terms of the elected regional officials expired), if not for the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court. (The TRO was issued in response to the cases filed by certain groups questioning the constitutionality of Republic Act 10153 postponing the scheduled ARMM elections in August to 2013 and allowing the President to appoint caretakers.)

The Supreme Court ordered incumbent ARMM officials to continue to govern the ARMM in a hold-over capacity during the effectivity of the TRO.

In response to Adiong’s memorandum, six members of the regional Cabinet have resigned as of Friday with more than a dozen yet to follow, said ARMM information chief Ali Macabalang.

“This could be the handiwork of saboteurs with vested interest,” said Macabalang, who declined to elaborate on the people behind the bomb scare.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Badian, city police chief, said that prior to the discovery on Sunday morning of two 81-millimeter mortars with wiring in a paper box, a boy was seen toying with a cell phone, which he claimed to have found while playing around a nearby basketball court.

The complex is home to regional offices and some residential houses of employees.

Residents said they heard a “not-so-loud explosion” at the vicinity past 8 p.m. Saturday, which soldiers manning the entrance gate thought was a mere pyrotechnic.

No one was hurt in the still undetermined blast, said Badian, who ordered a thorough police investigation.

A bomb disposal unit from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division had been deployed to detonate the recovered explosives.