Koronadal City in South Cotabato (Image by Google Maps)
KORONADAL CITY — Police here blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF) for explosion that injured two personson on Sunday near a church in Barangay Zone 3 here.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, chief of the Central Mindanao Police Regional Office, told reporters that the suspects also planted another improvised explosive device (IED) in front of a convenience store, about three blocks away from the St. Anthony Parish Cathedral where the first IED went off.
“This is a diversionary tactic of the BIFF because of the series of arrest we made against them and the continued military operation against the lawless group in Maguindanao,” Morales said of the 12:50 p.m. blast.
He said the perpetrators had actually plotted to set off three improvised bombs in the city’s commercial district here.
One went off in front of the flower shop on Rizal Street, beside the cathedral. But the bombs placed at the 747 convenience store on GenSan Drive and the one near Ela Building, also on GenSan Drive, had been deactivated by bomb experts.
Citing police reports, Morales said a woman was seen beside the convenience store. She had a plastic bag, which she left, and then went away.
A CCTV footage is being examined to determine the identities of the bombers.
Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel has appealed to the public to remain calm but alert.
He urged the public to be on the look out for suspicious boxes and bags left unattended by anyone.
He also said that Koronadal had been in the radar of terrorist organizations.
Stricter checkpoints around the city and implementation of stricter curfew hours are being considered to prevent similar attacks in the future.
He lauded civilians for alerting the police about the two other bombs. /atm