Improvised bomb found near school in South Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) planted near a school in South Cotabato Monday morning, a police official said.

Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, who heads the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, said that police were able to disrupt the bomb at around 11 a.m. after it was discovered by two students from the Polomok National Highschool in Polomok, South Cotabato at around 8:45 a.m.

The IED, wrapped in a sack and placed inside a carton, was left near the gates of the school, said Khu.

Authorities recovered two 81 millimeter mortar shells with markings PLAP 3-3, a Samsung cellphone, three pieces of Energizer batteries, a circuit board, and small sheets of paper which had “Bangsamoro Independence Movement (BIM)” and “Bangsamoro Youth Movement (BYM)” printed on them, he said.

Khu added that they have yet to identify the suspects but surmised that the bomb could be one of those described in earlier intelligence reports received by DIPO-WM of IEDs which were allegedly hidden in Polomok town.