Roadside bomb plot foiled

Government troops have foiled a roadside bombing attempt in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.

Bomb disposal experts defused three rifle-propelled grenades found along the national highway in Barangay Rebuken at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Col. Earl Baliao, commanding officer of the Army’s 603rd Brigade, said the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were fashioned from live mortar rounds rigged with blasting mechanisms attached to a mobile phone.

“We are still trying to determine the motive of the perpetrators. An investigation is ongoing… there are many groups in the area who could be behind this bomb plot,” Baliao said.

He said they are investigating if the bomb plot is connected with the attack in Davao City that left 15 civilians dead and 70 others wounded.

Meanwhile, a soldier was wounded in a roadside bombing believed to be perpetrated by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Datu Saudi, Maguindanao on Tuesday.

Sgt. Ricor Bati-on and his companions were on their way to a secluded barangay to verify the reported presence of gunmen extorting money from peasants when the bandits set off the bomb.

Also on Tuesday in North Cotabato, suspected bomb maker Jukri Buisan was arrested during a raid on a house in Barangay Inas in Mlang town.

Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police director, said bomb materials were recovered at the scene.