Bombing attempt foiled in Shariff Aguak

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao (PNA) – Alert police force multipliers and Army bomb experts foiled Friday night a bombing attempt here, and arrested two of four suspects, the military has said.

The improvised explosive device (IED) concealed inside a small box was left at about 6:30 p.m. by four men beside a terminal ticket booth, near an outpost of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT).

The Army’s Explosive and Ordnance Division (EOD) defused the IED about an hour later, according to Capt. Arvin John Encinas, Army’s Sixth Infantry Division spokesperson.

He said alert BPAT members told the military they saw four men leave a suspicious package at the ticket booth, and quickly left on board two motorbikes.

The BPAT members immediately informed Shariff Aguak Vice Mayor Akmhad Ampatuan who, along with the BPAT, chased the suspects.

They arrested two suspects on the first motorbike, but failed to catch up with the others.

Encinas identified the arrested suspects as Esmael Abdulkarem, 44, a resident of Shariff Aguak, and Boy Kamid, 52, of Datu Hoffer, both in Maguindanao. Two .45-caliber pistols were found in their possession.

Immediately, elements of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 57th Infantry Battalion cordoned off the ticketing booth area.