NPA bombs recovered in Southern Philippines

Army officials said troops have recovered dozens of landmines and various materials used in the manufacture of improvised explosives in the southern Philippines.
Officials linked the explosives to the communist rebel group New People’s Army in Loreto town in Agusan del Sur province. The cache of landmines was discovered by civilians in the village of Mansanitas, according to Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command.
Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, the Eastern Mindanao Command chief, praised the bravery of the civilians who informed the military about the explosives.
“We thank our people for their cooperation. Our soldiers are always ready to respond anywhere and whenever needed. If the NPA is sincere about peace, they must stop manufacturing landmines as these kill people and destroy properties,” Cruz said.
He said the discovery came a day after two NPA rebels - Robert Daging and Abet Guinson – surrendered to the 36th Infantry Battalion in Carmen town in the province of Surigao del Sur.
The duo also handed over two automatic rifles. The NPA has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. 

Article Source: Mindanao Examiner

Two IEDs Recovered in North Cotabato Town

KIDAPAWAN CITY  – Two powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered along the highway in M’lang town in North Cotabato, around 7:30 p.m. yesterday, police officials said.

Inspector Rolando Dillera, deputy chief of police of M’lang, said that both IEDs were fashioned from a 60-mm mortar with a blasting cap, detonating cord and a clock as the triggering device.

Dillera said it was a balut vendor that informed them of the suspicious package left in front of a restaurant along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Poblacion, M’lang.

The vendor told authorities that an unidentified male person left the package just few feet away from a concrete road pavement along the highway minutes before the recovery, who then boarded a vehicle and sped towards an unknown direction.

 “There were at least two people that were seen roaming around the place minutes before the vendor found the package,” said Dillera.

An hour later, elements of the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Team of the Army arrived at the place and defused the IEDs.

Dillera said the bombs recovered in M’lang town looked like the explosives recovered and defused last January in Kidapawan City.

“We have yet to find out as to who might be behind the planting of these bombs,” said Dillera. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Malu Cadelina Manar | Manila Bulletin | March 7, 2013 | Article Link