ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 27, 2014) – Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar praised the local police force and the military following the recovery of two suspected Abu Sayyaf bombs on a village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
Police have recently recovered two 60 mm mortars hidden in a bush at Sitio Salom in San Roque village.
“We thank police and military operatives for their aggressive efforts to avert security threats with the recovery of improvised explosive devices in San Roque,” Salazar said, adding the recovery of the bombs was the result of an operation following the arrest of two Abu Sayyaf militants here.
“Police authorities recovered two 60mm projectile mortars in a secluded area in San Roque in a follow-up operation resulting from the arrest of two suspected lawless elements in the area recently. The timely response of the authorities foiled possible threats to the city’s security,” she said.
Salazar also urged the public to stay vigilant and help authorities by reporting suspicious persons or abandoned baggage in villages.
“We urge the public to be proactive by coordinating with police and military authorities. Report the presence of suspicious persons, items and activities in your area. Public safety is everyone’s priority,” she said.
The recovery of the bombs following the arrest of an Abu Sayyaf bomber, Nujir Ahidji, in a raid May 17 at Southcom Village just outside the military’s Western Mindanao Command hosting US forces in Zamboanga City.
“The recovery of the mortar bombs was the result of intelligence operation,” Senior Inspector Joseph Ortega, a regional police spokesman, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
It was unknown who hid the bombs in the village, but Ortega said police are still investigating Ahidji to determine the identities of other Abu Sayyaf militants hiding in Zamboanga.
The military said it is also hunting down militants in Zamboanga and nearby areas. “The Western Mindanao Command and the Philippine National Police are jointly intensifying law enforcement operations in order to eliminate criminal activities through expeditious arrest of remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements,” said Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a military spokeswoman.
The Western Mindanao Command is one of several military bases in southern Philippines where the US maintains a high-security facility under the command of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines which is helping local troops fight terrorism.
Just earlier this month, police also captured a 36-year old Abu Sayyaf militant, Harijin Jinny, in downtown Zamboanga while working as a security guard on a store just outside the police headquarters.
Last month, police commandos raided an Abu Sayyaf hideout in Zamboanga’s Santa Maria village and killed 2 militants and captured 6 more following a firefight that wounded one policeman. Commandos recovered four .45-caliber pistols and three fragmentation grenades from the hideout. (Mindanao Examiner)
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