THE PHILIPPINE military has urged the public to be on alert and stay vigilant at all times following attempts by pro-ISIS militants to bomb civilian targets in the restive southern region.
Just recently, troops and policemen foiled a bombing attempt in Tacurong City after a civilian discovered an improvised explosive along General Lim Street and immediately informed authorities about it.
Security officials have blamed failed attack to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and tagged two fighters Brah Lumambas and Bohari Adam, both bomb-makers under militant leader Gani Saligan, as behind the attempt.
The BIFF, whose members were mostly former Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, is on a terror campaign following a series of defeat from deadly clashes with military forces in Mindanao in recent months.
“This is the second attempt of the BIFF terror group to create chaos in Tacurong City, but was successfully pre-empted through the help of our concerned civilians in the community,” said Col. Robert Dauz, commander of the 1st Infantry Mechanized Brigade.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said: “The bombing attempt was clearly meant to create atrocities and terror attack in the peace-loving and progressive city of Tacurong.”
He also appealed to citizens to immediately report to authorities anything that is suspicious – from people to abandoned baggage in public places and communities.
Last May 27, security forces also foiled a bombing attempt by militants to sow terror after an improvised explosive was found planted near a school in Tacurong City.
Sporadic clashes still continue between troops and militants in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces and in nearby areas as BIFF stepped up its attacks on military targets.
In June, fighting broke out in Olandang village in North Cotabato’s Midsayap town where troops raided a BIFF hideout and the target of the operation was militant leader Mando Mamalumpong. Soldiers recovered an M16 automatic rifle, ammunition, two grenades and improvised explosive, including military uniform and a binocular, in the area where the gun fight occurred.
The military also launched an offensive in Liguasan marsh in the neighboring province of Maguindanao and claimed to have killed over a dozen militants. It said the strike also destroyed an alleged weapons’ factory of the BIFF in the marsh.
The offensive forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes for fear they would be caught in the crossfire. The military assault also forced the Department of Education to suspend classes in four towns of General Salipada Pendatun, Pagalungan, Rajah Buayan and Montawal. (Mindanao Examiner)
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