Alert bystander prevents bomb blast in Sultan Kudarat terminal

TACURONG City, Philippines—An alert bystander prevented what could have been a bloody Saturday afternoon at a terminal in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat when he found a yellow sack left unattended and alerted the Army.

The yellow sack that made the man suspicious contained an improvised explosive device (IED), according to Colonel Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division, quoting a report from the military-led Task Force Talakudong.

“It was a very powerful IED and it was meant to kill,” Asto said even as he lauded the man named only as Rolly for being alert.

The military report said Rolly saw a man disembark from multi-cab passenger jeep carrying a yellow sack before noon Saturday.

After few minutes, he noticed the man leave but did not carry the sack, making him curious as to why it was left behind.

He then alerted the Army by phone.

Bomb experts discovered that the IED was fashioned from an 81 mm mortar, a 9-volt battery and a mobile phone serving as trigger mechanism.

The mortar, which authorities said was rusting, was turned over to Army Explosive and Ordnance Division for proper disposition.