COTABATO CITY – Philippine troops tightened security in the troubled region of Mindanao where soldiers are battling pro-ISIS militants in Maguindanao province, officials said Sunday.
Officials said soldiers also recovered powerful improvised explosives after a clash Friday with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya in Inaladan village in Shariff Saydona town.
Two of the improvised bombs were assembled and rigged to “Jetmatic” water pumps, and another plastic bottle containing ammonium nitrate and iron nails was also recovered from the area, according to Col. Jose Narciso, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
“The IEDs were already rigged and ready to be used. It appears that they are planning to use these IEDs for something or somewhere where it will have a big impact. The reasons we launched these combat operations is to seek those terror devices immediately and disable them since different local governments in Central Mindanao will be having their festivals,” he said.
Narciso said the North Cotabato towns of Isulan and Midsayap are set to celebrate the annual Kalimudan and Sinugba Festivals, as well as founding anniversaries of different municipalities in the province. “It was timely that we found them for we have received reports that these groups were planning to use them as soon as possible,” he said.
Despite the continued military operations and the extended martial law in the South, Islamic extremists also continue their attacks on soldiers and innocent civilians the past 3 years, and bombing targets in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
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