THREE soldiers and a policeman were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Sulu while another IED was disrupted in Maguindanao, military officials said Tuesday, August 20.
Major Arvin John Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, said the IED explosion happened around 10:15 a.m. Monday in Igasan village, Patikul, Sulu.
Encinas said the three soldiers belong to the Army’s Special Forces-Explosive Ordnance Demolition Team (SF-EODT) while the policeman to the Special Action Force-EODT (SAF-EODT).
He said the troops together with policemen from Patikul town rushed to Igasan village following reports of the presence of an IED in the area.
Encinas said the troops were about to render safe procedure through “blast in place” when the IED exploded and injured four of them.
He said the wounded troops were rushed to the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu for medical treatment.
The explosion happened hours after the Abu Sayyaf bandits ambushed a police convoy also in Patikul, Sulu.
Two policemen were injured in the ambush that happened around 7:59 a.m. Monday in the village of Igasan, Patikul.
Encinas said the convoy was providing security to the carpooling of teachers traveling from Igasan to Taglibi village, Patikul.
Meanwhile, troops from the Army’s 31st EODT disrupted an IED around 10:30 p.m. Monday in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao.
The IED was found in Poblacion village, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, which is along Tacurong-Cotabato City main supply route.
The IED was found after another IED exploded around 7:25 p.m. Monday in also in Poblacion, Datu Anggal Midtimbang.
“The prompt response of our ground forces led to the successful disruption of said improvised explosive. Proactive measures will be made to thwart any terror ploys of lawless groups in the area,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief.