TROOPS may have foiled another possible attack in Jolo, Sulu with the discovery of an explosive at a roadside in Barangay Walled City on Saturday evening, September 19, 2020.
The Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said Sunday, September 20, that a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was conducting area paneling at Jolo Pier at around 6:02 p.m. when a bomb-sniffing dog squatted on an item.
This prompted the team to inspect the item, which turned out to be an improvised explosive device with two electric blasting caps, one rifle grenade, one spark plug, and concrete nails.
The PCG personnel immediately sought the assistance of the police and the military. The device was defused on site.
Brigadier General William Gonzales, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, commended the troops, saying they “foiled this terroristic activity” and saved the lives of innocent people.
Suicide bombing attacks in Jolo since 2019 have killed scores of uniformed men and civilians.
The latest bombing incident occurred on August 24, 2020, with two female suicide bombers detonating explosives that killed 15 people and wounded 74 others in Barangay Walled City.
Lieutenant Corleto Galvez, Wesmincom commander, also commended the intelligence units assigned in the area.
He said the discovery of the explosive was a result of the intensified conduct of intelligence operations and the strengthened collaboration with the police and other security agencies. (With a report from SunStar Zamboanga)