ZAMBOANGA CITY – Security forces have foiled a planned bombing by Dawlah Islamiya terrorists in a remote area of Madalum town in Lanao del Sur, officials announced Thursday.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the planned bombing was foiled as troops from the 55th Infantry Battalion (IB) discovered two improvised bombs while on security operation around 11:55 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Udangon, Barangay Tamporong, Madalum.
Vinluan said the two improvised bombs were placed at the site where the 55IB troops have clashed against 20 Dawlah Islamiya terrorists on Sunday that resulted to the death of a soldier and injured two others.
The clash ensued when the 55IB troops chanced upon 20 Dawlah Islamiya terrorists while on security operations.
Lt. Col. Franco Raphael Alano, 55IB commander, said both improvised bombs were placed on tin cans wrapped with masking tapes.
Alano added that one of the two bombs, which is a pressure-release type of explosive, was buried on the ground while the other one was tied on a tree about 10 meters away from the first one.
He also noted that the troops discovered around 1 p.m. Wednesday the third improvised bomb tied on a tree, five meters away from the second explosive.
The personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EODT) defused all the three improvised bombs, according to Alano.
Vinluan said the troops continue to intensify operations and take preemptive and decisive actions to counter desperate attacks employed by the terrorists to inflict casualties not only on soldiers but on the civilians as well. – Nikolai Gonzalo
