AMPATUAN, Maguindanao–Army intelligence agents intercepted an alleged bombing plot here by the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Thursday evening.
Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said in a report that Army intelligence operatives immediately alerted members of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) stationed in Barangay Dicalungan on a roadside bomb.
“True enough, at past 8 p.m. militiamen manning the highway detachment found the improvised bomb left by two men riding tandem on a motorbike,” he said.
Dela Vega said the BIFF left near the militia detachment a powerful improvised explosive device fashioned from a live 81-mm mortar projectile with mobile phone as trigger mechanism.
After an hour-long operation, Army bomb experts defused the explosive at past 9 p.m. Traffic along the highway was shut down while deactivation operation was going on.
Dela Vega identified the BIFF personnel who planted the IED as Ali Usman and Saudi Manguka, both followers of BIFF field commander Sukarno Zapal.
At about the same time, the military official said a band of BIFF members harassed an Army detachment in Barangay Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan. Three soldiers were slightly injured when the BIFF fired rocket-propelled grenades toward the detachment.
Those injured were identified as Private Richie John Nauta, Sgt. Ronald Tabunan and Sgt. Dennis Cantillano. Three BIFF were also killed when hit by a mortar round, the Army said, quoting local officials of Barangay Madia.
Barangay Madia is one of the identified election hotspots in the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. (PNA)
