COTABATO CITY–Military bomb disposal experts disarmed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found separately in two areas along the national highway in Maguindanao province Tuesday evening.
Senior Insp. Zulkunain Kunakon, Guindulungan town police chief, said civilians reported to the police around 10 p.m. the discovery of a paper box filled with IEDs rigged with mortar explosives in Sitio Pansul, Barangay Macasampen.
Kunakon said responding members of the military’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team (EODT) arrived at the area and found four 81-mm and one 60-mm mortar rounds attached to a booster that can be triggered through a mobile phone.
“The EODT immediately deactivated the bomb,” Kunakon said in an interview over a local radio station.
He said the composition of the IED has the capacity to inflict heavy damage to travelers passing by the highway had it not been found. Some two hours later, villagers also reported another IED found in Barangay Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Major Arvin John Encinas, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said alert civilians reported to authorities about the IED discovery around 11:30 pm., prompting the EODT to rush to the scene and disarm the bomb.
“The bomb was fashioned from an 81-mm mortar explosive with mobile phone as triggering device,” Encinas said.
Chief Insp. Sabri Lakibul, Datu Odin Sinsuat police chief, said the bomb was found near the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Maguindanao Postgraduate School situated along the highway in the area.
Lakibul said the bomb could have been intended for MSU-Maguindanao postgraduate students, who have a scheduled fun biking activity that would commence in front of their school on Wednesday morning.
Military and police personnel are still trying to determine the group responsible for the bombing attempts. ( Noel Punzalan/PNA)
