Bombing attempt in Jolo foiled

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military foiled a bombing plot of the Abu Sayyaf group after the Army’s bomb experts successfully recovered and defused an improvised bomb planted in a busy street of downtown Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, a military official said yesterday.

But the recovery has sent the military to double its alert level against the bandits.

Brig. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, anti-terror Task Force Comet chief, said the bomb, fashioned from a 60mm mortar shell, was covered shortly before 11 a.m. yesterday planted near a local pharmacy in sitio Alat, Barangay Salimbagon.

Habacon said the recovery was made possible through a tip provided by a civilian about the presence of a suspicious object.

"We have been on alert against terrorists. The civilians are starting to be vigilant against this plot," Habacon said.

Elements of the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) army unit were immediately sent to the area and successfully diffused the bomb.

"The type of bomb was similar to the bombs we have seized from the Abu Sayyaf’s urban terrorist group (UTG). This simply means that the group wants to continue its terrorist activities," he added.

The military captured one of the UTG suspected bomb experts sometime last May and recovered a huge cache of improvised bombs with remote control devices, but Habacon said the group has members who remain at large.

"We have arrested some of their members but they have a cell which is now the object of our operation," Habacon said.

Habacon also revealed that the group is operating under the leadership of Radullan Sahiron, alias Commander Putol, a one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader.

However, Habacon could not say if the foiled bombing attempt is part of the possible retaliation of the Abu Sayyaf for the death sentence handed down to 17 of its members in Basilan last Aug. 13.