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Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Terrorists not behind Polomok blast: Army
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS -- Col. Alexander Yano denied Tuesday that the explosion in Polomolok, South Cotabato was the handiwork of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group.
Yano, commanding officer of the Army's 601st Brigade, said the explosion was caused by a fragmentation grenade placed near a water pipeline. The blast 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 10 kilometers from the cannery of Dole Philippines," Yano revealed.
A military source, meanwhile, revealed that two persons suspected of being behind the explosion were already in their custody.
He, however, declined to reveal the identities of the suspects.
Yano, for his part, said the suspects tied the grenade to a GI water pipe and pulled the rope some 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 but did not elaborate.
A radio station earlier reported that the owner of the land where the water pipes are located was claiming compensation for Dolefil's use of the property as road right-of-way.
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 explained.
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 said the Pentagon, headed by Alonto Tahir and considered by government a terrorist group, perpetrated the blast.Sun.Star General Santos |
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