Cotabato bus firm links terminal bomb try to extortion demands

COTABATO CITY – The management of Husky Bus here said Thursday’s bombing attempt at its terminal in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao could be related to extortion letters that one company official has been receiving.

Carlo Manalo, station head of Husky’s Cotabato station, said the latest extortion demand the bus company got, which was sent by an Abu Saddab of the so-called ISM, via text message was on Thursday, shortly after the recovery of a bomb at the Shariff Aguak bus terminal.

He said the sender had threatened to blow up any Husky Bus or stage ambuscades if the demand was not met.

Manalo said they reported the extortion attempts to the police.

Chief Inspector Carmelo Mungkas, spokesperson of the Maguindanao police provincial office, said the bomb was discovered after alert civilians notified police about an unattended grey backpack at the Shariff Aguak bus terminal around 12:45 p.m. Thursday.

Mungkas said Army bomb experts later deactivated the bomb.

Colonel Lito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said the IED was made up of a 60-millimeter mortar shell and an MK-2 fragmentation grenade wired to a mobile phone. It was also rigged with gasoline and black explosive powder.

Sobejana said further investigation showed the mobile phone attached to the bomb had several missed calls, indicating that the bomber had repeatedly tried but failed to set off the IED.

Sobejana, quoting witnesses, said the suspected bomber boarded the bus here and alighted at the Shariff Aguak terminal.

He said the man was last seen standing at the terminal as the Husky bus left for General Santos City. CDG

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