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Monday, April 30, 2007
Bomb found at Tacurong police outpost
KORONADAL CITY -- Explosives experts detonated Sunday a bomb placed outside a police outpost in nearby Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat Province.
The bombing attempt, believed perpetrated by suspected terrorists, came a day after the annual Palarong Pambansa (national games) concluded here on Saturday. No one was reported killed or injured in the blast.
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Police Officer I Darwin Lopez, who was guarding the outpost, said he discovered the box containing the improvised bomb when he came out of the outpost's bathroom.
Lopez said the box was not there when he went inside so he became suspicious when he saw it upon his return. "I was inside the comfort room for less than three minutes. When I inspected the box, I saw wirings," he told reporters.
He said he immediately brought the box, weighing about half a kilo, to a deserted area and stacked it inside several used tires with the help of fellow officers.
Bomb experts from the military, who were asked to respond to the incident, blew the explosive about 30 minutes after Lopez discovered it.
The bomb was fashioned to kill or maim people as it contains concrete nails, the police officer said.
The city has been on alert for possible terrorist attacks, following intelligence reports saying local terrorists were planning to disrupt the games.
Lopez said an investigation is being conducted to determine the motive for the bomb try.
Two explosions rocked Tacurong, first at the public market in October 10 and another in late December that injured six persons, in the last quarter of 2006. In recent years, bomb attacks in Tacurong killed and injured many people.
Days before the staging of the Palarong Pambansa here, the United States advised its citizens against traveling to Mindanao.
This city was particularly cited by the advisory as a likely target, due to the staging of the national games, which concluded on Saturday with a fireworks display.
Security was tight during the weeklong Palarong Pambansa. Officials heaved a sigh of relief when closing rites came and no attacks marred the games.
The powerhouse National Capital Region was the overall champion in the secondary and elementary levels. NCR earned a whopping 365.4 points, 218.4 from the boys' section and 147 from the girls' side, to romp away with the overall title.
Western Visayas came in at distant second with 218.5 points, followed by Southern Tagalog A with 202 points.
In the elementary level, NCR and Western Visayas also ruled the games, at 275 and 236.5 points, respectively.
Rounding up the magic five were Central Visayas (135), Southern Tagalog A (130) and host Central Mindanao Region (127). (Sun.Star General Santos/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (April 30, 2007 issue)
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