Bomb found in Masbate police station

NAGA CITY, Philippines—A bomb was found installed at the Municipal Police Office of San Fernando town in Masbate early Monday, a day after the New People’s Army rebels launched a series of attacks in Mobo town, an Army official said Tuesday.

San Fernando lies in Ticao Island and is around 30 minutes of boat ride from Masbate City.

On Sunday, an Army soldier was killed and three other military men and at least seven police personnel were wounded in an attack on the police station of Mobo, around 9 kilometers from Masbate City.

The attack believed perpetrated by the communist rebels was followed by an explosion of landmines in the route taken by the responding police and an ambush of Army soldiers, also responding to the attack.

Major Angelo Guzman, public information officer of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur, said a police team discovered the improvised explosive device at the right side portion of the police station at around 4:30 a.m.

He said the team of Police Officer 3 Neil Recto was on foot patrol and security inspection at the municipal hall compound when they found the 200-meter wire that presumably would be used to detonate the bomb.

“It was laid at Rivas St. corner Honorato Alindungan St. in Barangay (village) Magsasaka Poblacion,” said Guzman.

He said the communist rebels could have also been behind the bomb found installed in the police station.

On Monday, National Democratic Front (NDF)-Bicol Spokesperson Greg Bañares, said the NPA was taking responsibility for the series of attacks in Mobo on Sunday.

He said the NPA carried out the attacks “to hold Mobo Mayor Percival Castillo accountable for his all-out support of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign in Masbate.

The NDF is the umbrella organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA. With Frances Mangosing, INQUIRER.net

Originally posted at 02:18 pm | Tuesday, August 16, 2011