Civilians, Army foil bombing in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao  – Civilians foiled on Wednesday a roadside bombing in Ampatuan, Maguindanao by quickly alerting soldiers nearby about the presence of suspicious sack that contained an improvised bomb. 

Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said the explosive device was found by civilians at 1:30 p.m. along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.  

The IED, described by Army bomb experts as pipe bomb with mobile phone as triggering device, was safely deactivated by bomb experts from the 32nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion troopers. 

Sobejana, in a statement, said the IED has the capacity to inflict damages on civilian commuters passing the highway or residents living nearby had it not been found and deactivated.  

“The 6th ID has appreciated the role of vigilant civilians in preventing bomb plots,” Sobejana said. 

The foiled plot came 12 days after two IEDs exploded along a highway in Ampatuan that missed a military convoy.  

Major Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6th ID, said the two IEDs that exploded on October 26 had the “trademark” of the IS linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. — LDF, GMA News