Bomb attack on Cotabato carnival foiled

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, Philippines – Police bomb experts on Saturday night defused an improvised explosive device (IED) and foiled an attempt to bomb a local carnival (peryahan) along the national highway here.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for the police in North Cotabato, said a civilian reported  the IED that was fashioned from a grenade with blasting caps and cellphone as trigger mechanism.

“It was meant to harm, kill or maim people,” Tayong told the Inquirer by phone. “The area is filled with people, commuters and those joining the peryahan.”

The carnival was set up near the intersection of the national highway and roads leading to the Midsayap town proper.  It also served as terminal for passenger vans and the “habal-habal,” a local passenger motorbike.

Tayong lauded a civilian who quickly alerted the police of his discovery hidden in a plastic bag. CBB/rga

RELATED VIDEO