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Saturday, May 31, 2008
MILF denies involvement in latest Zambo bombing
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY –- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denounced allegations linking their group to the latest bombing in Mindanao, specifically in Zamboanga City.
MILF information committee deputy chairman Khaled Musa called on Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) Director Jaime Caringal to retract his statement linking the MILF into Thursday’s bombing that killed two people and wounded several others.
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"This is a serious allegation against the MILF. This is an irresponsible statement. The MILF is a partner of the government in the search for genuine peace in Mindanao," Musa said in a statement posted Friday on the MILF's website.
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The Malacañang meantime welcomed the pronouncement of the MILF denying any involvement in the Zamboanga blast.
However, Deputy Presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said despite the MILF's statement, the authorities would still have to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice.
"Regardless kung inamin nila o hindi, the PNP (Philippine National Police) is still doing its investigation on the matter. But of course the authorities will have heavier consideration on the MILF statement. Mabuti at sinabi naman nila na wala silang partisipasyon, pero mas gusto naming na hintayin muna ang resulta ng imbestigasyon ng PNP," he said.
Two people died while 25 others were wounded when a powerful bomb exploded around 9:55 a.m. Thursday beside the office of the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc. (Amwslai), located in a building across the gate one of the Col. Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) that houses the Philippine Air Force' 3rd Air Division headquarters.
Initial reports identified Ayessa Bosmion and Emedito Talicti as among the victims who were declared dead on arrival at the Zamboanga City Medical Center.
Wounded were Carmen Baltingga, Almelita Algones, Jeneffer Manuel, Joseph Buscas, Jonard Toledo, Katlene Toledo, Rosanna Jane Baltingga, Arnel Carbonilla, Mohammad Sha Abdul, Geraldine Gregorio, Tapsi Mohammad Hussein, Benedict Gregorio, Nur Adzlin Sulayman, Alizel Gregorio, Amy Layan, Admir Masarik, Celina Mariño, Jayson Llanda, and Isagani Albaran.
Six others injured in the incident were still unidentified as of this writing Friday.
The explosion also destroyed the offices of the United State Assistance for International Development (USAid)-funded Alliance of Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy and of the first congressional district, as well as three vehicles.
Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) personnel found traces of trinitrotoluene (TNT), which Caringal said is the type of explosive that carries signature of the MILF's Special Operations Team (SOT).
Caringal disclosed the type of bomb that was used in bombing is similar to the explosives used by the MILF in previous bombings in Mindanao.
The cellular-phone detonated bomb was believed to have been concealed in a bag that was seen unattended prior to the explosion.
Sheikh Muhammad Muntasir, MILF's head of the dawah (Islamic call) department, condemned the bombing in behalf of the MILF central committee, describing it as "the handiwork of agents of darkness."
"Whoever did this evil act deserves the collective condemnation of everybody. There is no room for people like them in a civilized society," Muntasir said.
As of Friday, police authorities in Western Mindanao have raised a heightened alert in the entire region Friday to prevent other bombing incidents to occur.
"The anti-terrorism campaign is always in place, hindi nagpapabaya ang mag ototridad, may incident mang nangyari o wala," Golez said, asking the public to be vigilant and to report to authorities in case of any suspicious persons or strange activities occurring in their neighborhood. (With JMR/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (May 31, 2008 issue)
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