Raid in alleged MILF member’s house yields explosive, firearms

LUTAYAN, Sultan Kudarat – Soldiers and policemen seized various firearms as well as an improvised bomb and bomb-making components during a raid in the house of a suspected bomb-maker here on Sunday.

But the suspect, identified as Lasian Manibpel, an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), had eluded arrest, according to Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, the commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

Cabunoc said on Monday that the operation was launched in Barangay Sisiman here in the aftermath of the April 29 blast outside a church in Koronadal City.

“The suspect retreated to the mountains after sensing the arrival of the government troops. He is an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front based on the recovered identification card inside the house,” Cabunoc noted.

Cabunoc said among those confiscated from Manibpel’s house were a bomb and bomb-making components, rifle grenades, an M16 rifle, two shotguns, and a bandolier with steel magazines for M16 Rifle.

South Cotabato police director Sr. Supt. Nestor Salcedo said the recovered explosive from Manibpel’s house had similarities with the bomb used in the Koronadal blast that injured one person.

“(Bomb experts) revealed that the bomb components included nails, electrical wires, and cellphone triggering device. There is a possibility that the bomb-maker is the same as the one who fabricated the recently detonated bombs,” Salcedo said.

“There is no recognized MILF camp in Sultan Kudarat especially in my hometown in Lutayan. I will formally write a complaint against the presence of an armed group here because it violates the GPH-MILF Joint Ceasefire Agreement,” Gov. Pax Mangudadatu said of the raid.   /kga