ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A motorboat loaded with sacks of explosives was intercepted in the waters off a village east of this city yesterday.
Personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company led by Lt. Col. Reynald Ariño were conducting coastal patrol off Sitio Layag-Layag in Barangay Talon-Talon when they spotted a jungkong.
Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga police chief, said the unidentified passengers of the boat jumped overboard and escaped as law enforcers were approaching.
Thirteen sacks containing ammonium nitrate were found in the boat.
Police said the chemical, which is used for agricultural purposes and to produce dynamite for blast fishing, is also a main component of improvised explosive devices.