ALERTED security forces have prevented a roadside bombing, as they safely disarmed an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sulu, the military reported Monday, February 28.
Lieutenant Colonel Domingo Robles Jr., 35th Infantry Battalion commander, said the IED was defused around 1:10 p.m. Sunday, February 27, in Sitio Daan Putih, Anuling village, Patikul.
Robles said the IED was safely defused with the help of concerned residents who provided them timely information, prompting them to deploy troops backed by K9 teams.
Colonel Giovanni Franza, 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the troops recovered bomb components consisting of three electric blasting caps, six meters wire, one-meter detonating cord, one-gallon ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), 12 volts motorcycle battery, 128 pieces of four-inch common nails, and 37 pieces of 10-millimeter two-inch steel bars.
Franza said the IED was intended to inflict death on government troops and other individuals as collateral casualties.
The IED was turned over to Philippine National Police-Provincial Explosive Canine Unit for appropriate disposition.
Brigadier General Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force-Sulu commander, commended the efforts of the troops and that of the concerned residents.
Patrimonio said they will continue to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who are believed to be behind the roadside bombing attempt.
"We will not stop until we zero-in the enemy and their leadership," he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)