Army foils Abu Sayyaf bomb plot in Basilan

Army soldiers safely detonated on Wednesday a bomb allegedly planted by the Abu Sayyaf to disrupt water service in Basilan province and force the local water district to pay extortion money, the military said.

The improvised explosive device made from a mortar round was discovered along the main pipeline of the Maluso Water District Area (MAWAD) at about 6:45a.m., said Lieutenant Colonel Eliglen Villaflor of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion.

It was subsequently retrieved and blown up by the Army’s 14th Special Forces Company, Villaflor said.

Last week, the Abu Sayyaf blew up water pipes in Maluso which affected water supply in eight villages.

Villaflor said they suspect extortion as the motive for the plot of the Abu Sayyaf to bomb Maluso.

“They are hoping that by destroying the pipeline of MAWAD they will be able to monthly extortion money. The management declined and the people got fed up with the Abu Sayaff,” he said.

Only 30 percent of the damaged water pipes have been restored by MAWAD, Villaflor said, adding that the transport of equipment had been a setback.