Marwan’s wards tried to retaliate with bombing 2 days after Mamasapano raid

After Malaysian terrorist and bombmaker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan was killed during an operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano town last month, the authorities in some parts of Central Mindanao are on heightened alert for the possible retaliation of the terrorist's allies. 

 

Two days after the Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25 when SAF troopers claimed to have killed Marwan, two of his students tried to detonate a bomb in Pikit, Cotabato, a report on "24 Oras" said on Wednesday.

The plan was reportedly thwarted when the improvised explosive device exploded while the two were still on the motorcycle to the target area. 

 

One of the suspects Asrap Mohamad was dead on the spot. The authorities managed to arrest his companion Jhomar Pagulayan who admitted that the bomb mission was to avenge their teacher Marwan. He later died in the hospital. 

 

"Test mission nila kung epektibo ang pinag-aralan nila," said PS/Insp. Sindato Mundas Karin of Pikit Police. 

 

New bombing style, bombs-for-sale 

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed that terrorists has a new style so they won't caught by the law enforcement agencies' dragnets. 

 

"Ang mga IED na ginanagamit nila, gumagamit sila ng mga unexploded ordnance like 'yung mga bala ng 81 mm mortar, 60 mm mortar, and even 105 mm mortar... Para hindi sila mahuli, piece by piece nila ipinapasaok itong mga components ng IED para sa gayon, makapag-assemble sila somewhere," said 7th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Orlando Edralin. 

 

The authorities also warned that bomb makers are also selling their creations. 

 

"'Yung ibang nasasangkot diyan, hindi naman eksperto sa mga bomba. Bumibili raw sila doon sa mga eksperto," Karim said. 

 

To protect the civilians, law enforcement agencies, especially in Maguindanao and Cotabato, are in heightened alert. They are also trying to collect more intelligence report on plans and movements of Marwan's students. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News