Abu Sayyaf foiled in new attempt to bomb Basilan town’s water pipe

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf bandits attempted, on Wednesday, to blast anew a major water supply pipe in Maluso, Basilan, which was among those they had bombed on June 6.

Domiciano Delgado, administration service assistant of the Maluso Water District (Mawad), said that fortunately, the new bomb, planted by the bandit group, was discovered before it could explode.

“It was an explosive attached to a mortar.  It was a relief for all of us that it was discovered immediately. Otherwise, we’ll face long days of being waterless again,” Delgado said, referring to the aftermath of the June 6 bombing.

At least 2,000 families from eight barangay (villages) in Maluso had left their homes then and sought water from nearby villages.

Mawad workers, backed by soldiers, spent days restoring the blasted pipes. The main pipe was restored just five days ago, Delgado said.

Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor, commander of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion, said the IED was placed near Mawad’s main line in Barangay Mahayahay.

Had the bomb exploded, people would have been killed or injured.

“The IED was hidden beside the main pipeline purposely to destroy it or inflict casualties among the repairing maintenance team of Mawad. The explosive was made from a mortar round capable of inflicting huge damage to the pipeline or any person within close proximity,” Villaflor said.

Delgado said the Abu Sayyaf had been targeting Mawad’s facilities because the water utility had rejected the bandit group’s extortion demand.

Villaflor said the military has started organizing village defense forces to help protect the water supply in the town.