|
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
2 suspected bombers arrested in Koronadal
By Allen V. Estabillo
Police say suspects were carrying a pistol, mortar shell, rifle grenades, ammunitions
KORONADAL CITY -- Police arrested two suspected bombers who were allegedly carrying several explosives in front of a shopping mall here Monday morning.
Supt. Florendo Quidilla, Koronadal City police director, identified one of the suspects as Abdul Rahman Bedis, who reportedly claimed to be a field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) operating in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos area.
The identity of the other suspect, who is still undergoing tactical interrogation with Bedis, is being withheld.
Quidilla said the suspects were arrested at about 10:45 Monday morning while inside the Casa Gemma restaurant in front of the four-storey KCC Mall of Marbel along the national highway here.
The suspects yielded a live 40 mm mortar shell, a live capsule of the M-203 rifle grenade, a 9 mm handgun and several ammunitions.
Quidilla said the two suspects, along with three other companions, initially entered the restaurant by acting as ordinary customers.
However, he said the restaurant's security guard and owner, who noticed that the suspects were acting suspiciously, alerted police.
Bedis and one of his companions were reportedly collared by responding elements from the Philippine Army's 27th Infantry Battalion at the mall.
The three other suspects managed to escape from the area.
Quidilla said the suspects, who were allegedly members of the MILF special operations group, were supposedly planning to launch another bomb attack when they were cornered Monday morning.
"They were reportedly monitoring the situation of several bombing targets in the area," he said.
At least four bomb attacks rocked this city last year, which left at least 13 people dead and at least a hundred others injured.
One of the bombs exploded in front of KCC Mall, while three other explosions happened at the city's central public market.
Authorities blamed the attacks on the MILF, although the attacks were claimed by an alleged special operations group of the Abu Sayyaf group operating in Central Mindanao.
The MILF leadership has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks.
(March 2, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
