Security forces foil bomb attack in NCotabato

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato - Army and police agents on Sunday foiled a bombing attempt here by a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM).

Bomb disposal operatives managed to promptly deactivate a powerful improvised explosive device planted by a certain Armos Salanggao at a busy spot here.

Salanggao, who admitted to his being a BIFM member, was arrested near the Hill Park Inn and Restaurant along Quezon Boulevard at a commercial district at about 8 a.m. Sunday.

Senior Superintendent Joselito Esquivel, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 12, said Salanggao was intercepted by intelligence agents with the help of local informants.

Salanggao confessed to having left a bomb at a gasoline station and led policemen to its location.

Authorities found the the IED a few meters from the gas station. It was fashioned from a live 60mm mortar with “Bruno” markings and had an old Nokia cellphone as trigger mechanism.

Salanggao is now under CIDG custody and undergoing tactical interrogation. Police are determining if there are other IEDs planted around the province.