|
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Bomb found in Cagayan de Oro bus terminal
By Joey P. Nacalaban
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Tension gripped the Agora Bus Terminal here Monday when a live improvised explosive device was found inside one of the parked buses in the area.
When the report came out, bus passengers panicked and shoved and pushed one another in a frantic effort to escape the area.
Senior Police Officer 1 Allan Dennis Poe Tingson of the Explosive Ordnance Department said the improvised explosive was placed at the back of a passenger bus.
The bus came from Kabacan, North Cotabato. It arrived at Agora terminal at about 2:30 p.m. Monday.
"Sa dihang nanganaug na ang mga pasahero natingala ang usa sa ila kay dunay usa ka butang nga nabilin mao kadtong na-alarma sila (When the passengers came out, one of them saw a bag that was left behind. That's why they got alarmed)," Tingson said.
They immediately reported the matter to the police, whose headquarters is only a short distance from where the bomb was found.
Tingson said his group immediately conducted steps to determine if the stuff was really a bomb and eventually detonated it.
Tingson confirmed that it was indeed an improvised bomb since its components remained intact. These included a 9 volt battery, a blasting cap, explosive filler, a terminal, and a mobile phone.
Tingson said the cellular phone was the bomb trigger.
"Tawagan lang to ang cell phone ug ang iyang vibration maoy mo trigger nga mobuto ang bomba (One call from the cell phone and its vibration would trigger the bomb explosion)," Tingson explained.
Authorities also found near the bomb a sketch with the names of the towns of Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City.
Police believe the names written in the sketch were the targets of the perpetrators.
Police are now determining the identity of the suspects using cartographic sketches.
Five years ago, several people were killed and wounded when an improvised bomb exploded inside the Agora terminal. The explosives were placed under one of the benches in the terminal. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(March 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Mayor suspects kidnap group’s link to generals