AFP warns of more bombings in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY , Philippines — The military warned yesterday that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will unleash more bombings in Mindanao to convince the international community that the stalled peace talks with the government must be revived.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman, in a text message said they have been receiving feedback from sectors in Central Mindanao that MILF bands were behind the bombings to project the need to resume the peace talks.

“Members of the MILF’s special operations group are now moving around,” he said.

“These people are also responsible for the bombings that toppled last week a power relay facility in Kabacan, Cotabato.

“These renegade bands are also trying to scare owners of commercial establishments in Central Mindanao to pay off a monthly protection money,” Ponce said.

Police in central Mindanao have been placed on alert after nine people were injured in a bomb attack in Kidapawan City on Sunday.

SOCCSKSARGEN Region police commander Chief Superintendent Fidel Cimatu said terrorists bombed a pedestrian overpass on Quezon Boulevard in Kidapawan City last Sunday, several hours after another explosion destroyed two buses in a terminal in Barangay Tamontaka in Cotabato City.

No one was injured during the attack in Cotabato City, he added.

Cimatu said terrorists have started to wreak havoc in major cities again.

“I have directed all city and provincial directors and group directors of PNP mobile groups to establish strong point detachments, establish monitoring points, enhance checkpoints and organize rapid deployment of troops to thwart any more of these scares,” he said.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu brushed aside as “propaganda” the military’s claim that rogue MILF bands were behind the terrorist attacks.

“We have nothing to gain out of those bombings,” he said.

Kabalu said the police and the military should first identify the bombers and their motives before announcing to the media that MILF rebels launched the attacks.

“The MILF is always used as the ‘whipping boy’ whenever there are incidents like these,” he said.

Nine civilians were hurt when an improvised explosive device blew up on a pedestrian overpass in Kidapawan City Sunday night.

Two buses were damaged when two men on a motorcycle left an improvised explosive device at the Husky Bus terminal in Cotabato City past 2 a.m. Sunday.

It was the second attack on the same place in two months.

So powerful was the explosion that the glass panes and display showcases of nearby commercial establishments were shattered.

The government-MILF peace talks virtually collapsed on Aug. 5 last year after the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the memorandum on ancestral domain that would have granted large tracts of land in Mindanao to the MILF.

Mayor warned of bombing

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco received a text message warning of an imminent attack by the Al-Khobar group before a homemade bomb exploded on the overpass in Kidapawan City on Sunday.

It was unclear whether a recent attempt to extort P250,000 from the city government was linked to the bombing, he added.

No further details of the extortion attempt were provided.

The blast damaged the concrete overpass and shattered the glass panes of nearby stores.

Soldiers and police cordoned off the area and intensified patrols.

The bomb appeared to have been left by a man who was seen crossing the overpass with a bag.

Moments after he passed, a loud blast rocked the area, Gantuangco said.

Al-Khobar has been known to carry out bombings when extortion or ransom payments are not made.

The group has been blamed for several deadly bombings of passenger buses and business establishments since 2007.

One of its leaders, a former rebel, was recently captured.   — With Cecille Suerte Felipe, AP