The military on Monday night foiled a bomb attempt in Jolo, Sulu, after soldiers discovered an explosive device hidden in a bunch of lansones left by the roadside.
The abandoned fruit was found near a checkpoint of the Philippine Marines along Airport Road in Barangay San Raymundo at around 7:30 p.m.
Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado said the bomb attempt was believed to be the work of the Abu Sayyaf group, possibly targeting a military camp nearby.
Two men aboard a motorcycle were seen leaving the fruit by the roadside, just before the Marines’ checkpoint.
A soldier saw the two men aboard the motorcycle coming from downtown Jolo, stopping about 20 meters before the checkpoint.
The men appeared to be experiencing engine trouble with their motorcycle, after which one of the men alighted and left the bunch of lansones by the side of the road.
Arrojado said the men then proceeded to push their motorcycle until they passed through the Marines’ checkpoint.
Troops from the Marines’ checkpoints checked out the abandoned fruit, which was revealed to have electric wires mixed with it.
Soldiers then cordoned off the area and called for reinforcements from explosives and ordnance units of the Marines and the Philippine National Police.
The improvised explosive device consisted of 60 mm mortar ammunition, a small plastic box containing two kilos of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, three Eveready 9 volt batteries, and a cell phone serving as a triggering device.