Police defused a bomb in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur early Friday, possibly targeting responding troops in the ongoing military operations in Butig town, the military said.
A certain Police Officer 1 Titiban of Task Force Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative told Marawi City Police that a suspected improvised explosive device along Brgy. Gadongan Thursday afternoon, Lt. Col. Benedicto Manquiquis of the Army’s First Infantry Division said.
Titiban, an agent of the Explosives and Ordnance Reconnaissance Action, said explosion was possible if the bomb was mishandled.
Marawi police and soldiers from the 65th Infantry Battalion cordoned the area until troops from the Iligan police responded before 1 a.m. By 5 a.m. the bomb was recovered and defused.
“It was found that the main charge is an 81 mm mortar shell,” Manquiquis said, describing it as a “strong” bomb.
“May possibility na para sa armor or sa troops na dadaan sa area, or diversionary na it will ease the operation na ginagawa sa Butig ngayon.”
(It is possible that it is for the armor of the troops about to pass by, or it may be a diversionary to ease the ongoing operation in Butig.)
The military has launched an ongoing operation against the Maute Group, which has been blamed for several cases of kidnappings and bombings in Mindanao.
Four soldiers have been killed so far. The military claims it killed 56 rebels but it could not be independently verified.
The fighting has displaced about 1,200 residents from several villages in Butig town. CDG
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