Homemade bomb found in GenSan shopping mall

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Hundreds of shoppers rushed out of the Gaisano Shopping Mall here yesterday afternoon after a homemade bomb was found tucked in one of the pockets of a jacket displayed at the garment section.

"I saw blinking red and green lights," said Pfc. Benjie Puyo, a Marine whom a saleslady and a security guard sought for help after finding the bomb.

An Army bomb disposal unit, led by M/Sgt. Edgardo Olata, rushed to the mall on Jose Catolico Avenue and promptly defused the improvised, battery-operated bomb.

Police said the bomb was similar to the explosive placed inside a bag also found in the Gaisano mall last April 1.

Explosions have rocked this city in the past two weeks, the most damaging of which were the blasts that struck the Fitmart Shopping Center on April 21 that left 15 people dead and at least 50 others injured.

Meanwhile, unknown men gunned down the other day a ranking leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) believed to be involved in the spate of bombings here.

The suspected bomber, Saraman Sali alias Commander Otto Alih, was standing in front of a store in Barangay Dadiangas West here when two men accosted and shot him in the head twice with caliber .45 pistols, according to Chief Inspector Allan Tanato, who heads the police precinct in the area.

The gunmen, along with two lookouts, escaped aboard two motorcycles, Tanato said.

Tanato suspects that Sali could have been slain because of his possible involvement in the recent bombings here.

Since Monday, 10 people suspected of having a hand in the terrorist acts have been killed.

The military earlier reported that three suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed in a clash with soldiers in Barangay Sapalan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Last Tuesday, four of their suspected cohorts were shot dead in the coastal village of Bula here. The victims, authorities said, were to carry out more terrorist attacks in this city, particularly in churches, public markets and media offices.