DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao—Military bomb experts deactivated Saturday two powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by suspected local terrorists along this town’s national highway.
Lt. Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the Army’s Task Force Joint Central, said the two improvised bombs were detonated by bomb experts from the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion at past 6 a.m. Saturday.
The discovery of the IEDs disrupted the flow of traffic from the adjoining towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Datu Piang.
Besana said the IEDs, fashioned from 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, were apparently intended for military vehicles traversing the only road that links the three towns.
Senior Supt. Edwin Wagan, Maguindanao police provincial director, said the IEDs were planted near residential houses and took some time for the military to detonate due to its proximity to public areas.
The two explosives were separated about 50 meters apart, and believed to have been planted by members of the IS-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“It was the work of the BIFF and they planted two bombs, a primary and secondary so that when the first missed, the second will surely hit a target traveling the highway,” a military intelligence officer said.
Traffic resumed, as well as campaign activities of village and SK elections candidates in Datu Salibo, after the IEDs were deactivated. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
