Police, military on high alert after Basilan, Sulu bomb tries

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police and military authorities in Basilan and Sulu were placed on high alert following bombing attempts there on Wednesday and Thursday.

Superintendent Jerome Afuyog Jr., officer-in-charge of the Isabela City Police Station in Basilan, said an improvised explosive device was recovered near Mabuhay Trading along Roxas Ave. in Isabela City around 3:25 a.m. Thursday.

He said the bomb – the exact type of which has not been specified, was disrupted through the use of water disruptor.

Afuyog would not say what group the police had suspected to be behind the attempt, saying a further investigation was being conducted.

In Jolo, Sulu, an IED – which was thrown at the rear of a military patrol jeep – failed to explode and was also subsequently disrupted on Wednesday evening.

Chief Inspector Junpikar Sittin, Jolo police chief, said the incident took place in Barangay Kasalamatan around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“(The unidentified) perpetrators were on board a motorbike and headed toward Barangay Latih in Patikul after throwing the explosive,” Sittin said, without saying what group the police had suspected to be involved.

He said the IED was safely disposed of by members of the explosives and ordnance team of the Special Action Force about two hours later. CDG

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