By Edwin Fernandez | Philippine News Agency
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat — Military bomb disposal experts disarmed Tuesday afternoon three improvised anti-personnel mines (APMs) in nearby Esperanza town which were intended to disrupt the forthcoming elections in the area.
Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said civilians discovered the APMs at an abandoned nipa hut in Sitio Kabanalian, Barangay Iligan, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat at 3 p.m. and immediately reported the matter to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MIB).
Esperanza is only some 20 kilometers away from Isulan, the capital of Sultan Kudarat province.
After receiving and confirming the report, troopers from the 2nd MIB cordoned off the area hut where the APMs were found until bomb experts arrived.
“Each of the anti-personnel mines weighs 29 kilos and could kill or maim anyone once it explodes,” said Lt. Colonel Alvin Iyog, 2nd MIB commander.
Iyog also lauded the civilians, saying the recovery of the APMs is attributed to the local residents’ vigilance and their continued support to the government’s relentless campaign against terrorism.
“We are glad the locals continuously support the unit’s campaign against local terror groups that sow terror in the community,” Iyog said.
He added that they are eyeing either the local terror groups of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or the communist New People’s Army as behind the botched terror plot.
Colonel Efren Baluyot, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander, said the manufacture of explosives was another desperate move of terror groups to get back at government forces after the destruction of their bomb-making facilities in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces recently.
Sobejana urged the public to continue supporting the military’s campaign against terrorism for the safety of everyone.
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