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Tuesday, December 03, 2002
No terrorists in Polomok explosion -- Army
By Edwin G. Espejo
COLONEL Alexander Yano Tuesday denied that the explosion in Polomolok, General Santos, was the handiwork of the Pentagon kidnap for ransom group.
Yano, commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 601st Brigade, said the explosion was caused by a fragmentation grenade hanged near a water pipeline but did not cause any damage or injury.
He also belied reports that Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) was the target of the blast.
"(The explosion happened) about ten kilometers from the cannery of Dole Philippines," Yano revealed.
An anonymous military source also disclosed that two suspects behind the explosion are already in their custody.
They however declined to reveal the identities of the suspects.
Yano said the suspects tied the grenade to a GI water pipe and pulled the rope from about 50 meters away.
"It did not cause any damage," he added.
Police and military authorities are looking into the possibility that the explosion was related to a land dispute. "One of the angles is land dispute. There is land claimant in the area. But we have yet to confirm that," the brigade commander said.
Yano however declined to further elaborate his theory. But a radio station reported that the owner of the land where the water pipes are located has been claiming compensation for the road right of way from Dolefil.
According to reports, the water pipeline was constructed by Dolefil to supply potable water to residents in Cannery, Polomolok.
It is not yet determined if the landowner is one of the suspects behind the blast.
"But definitely, the report that Pentagon (was involved is not correct). There was no direct involvement of Pentagon," Yano however said.
He said the motive of the suspect was probably to sabotage the water supply system of the company.
Reports from the wires that appeared in several national dailies Tuesday say that Pentagon, the terrorist group accordingly headed by Alonto Tahir, perpetrated the blast.
(December 3, 2002)
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