COTABATO CITY–Police units have been placed on heightened alert following an intelligence report that an Islamic State-linked rebel group is set to carry out bombings in North Cotabato, an official said Friday.
North Cotabato Police director, Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, issued the order after police and military forces have thwarted a shipment of improvised bombs in Carmen town.
Layugan said police and military checkpoints have been set up in areas where previous bomb attacks have transpired, specifically in the city of Kidapawan and the towns of Midsayap, Kabacan, Carmen, Matalam and Tulunan.
“We are not taking this lightly. This is very serious that we need to be one step ahead of lawless armed groups,” Layugan said.
Joint elements of the police and the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade on Tuesday discovered a bag containing five improvised bombs by the roadside in Kibayao, Carmen town.
“It (the bag) was hastily left by its courier a few meters from where the Army and police put up checkpoints,” said Chief Insp. Julius Malcontento, Carmen Police chief.
Malcontento said a tipster alerted them about an impending transport of explosives by suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) from Carmen to other North Cotabato towns.
No one has claimed ownership of the explosives, but Layugan lauded the civilians who alerted the police about its transport.
Earlier, the Army foiled a bombing attempt when they discovered and detonated a powerful bomb in front of the Grino Elementary School in Tacurong City.
Police and Army intelligence officials said the bomb was intended for the launch of Brigada Eskwela. ( Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
