Improvised bomb recovered at ARMM regional governor's office

Published December 20, 2011 11:25am

Hours after former Anak-Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman took oath as the newly appointed officer-in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an improvised bomb was found at the ARMM's Office of the Regional Governor (ORC) in Cotabato City.

Police reports indicate that about 8:20 p.m. on Monday, the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team (EODT) received information from a concerned citizen that an explosion occured inside the ORC compound in Cotabato City.

Upon receipt of the report, the EODT went to the area and recovered two ammunitions of 81 mm mortar, three batteries, and one cellular phone. There was no sign of any explosion.

The recovered items are now in the custody of the CCPO-EODT for proper disposal.

Previously, blasts have occured in Cotabato City while the Palace fought for the legality of appointing ARMM OICs.

Hataman took his oath of office before President Benigno Aquino III Monday afternoon. He was instructed to make sure that the reforms Aquino wants in the ARMM are implemented, noting that it was the government's goal when it postponed this year's election in the ARMM. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News