Marines, police foil bombing attempt in Basilan
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines/BP Garcia-–Government security forces have foiled a bombing attempt and detonated a powerful improvise bomb in downtown Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province, officials said Tuesday.
Capt. Neil Estrella, Task Force Trillium spokesman, said the bomb was discovered when civilians reported to the police around 3 p.m. Tuesday that a “suspicious” baggage was left in an alley near an outlet of a fast food chain along Valderoza Street, Isabela City.
Basilan provincial spokesman Christopher Puno said the alley where the bomb was found is located at the right side of the Jollibee outlet.
The Jollibee outlet is located across the street in front of the Basilan provincial capitol.
Estrella said explosive ordnance demolition (EOD) of the First Marine Brigade based in Basilan province that rushed to Valderoza Street immediately detonated the improvised bomb.
Estrella said the improvised bomb residues were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis to determine the explosive’s components.
The bomb was found 18 days after a powerful improvised bomb exploded last April 3 in front of the fast food chain outlet in Valderoza Street, Isabela City.
The incident that took place around 8 p.m. of 3 April resulted to the death of two people and injured eight others.
The police as well as the military authorities based in Basilan province are conducting separate investigation to determine the motive of Tuesday’s foiled bombing. (BP Garcia, The PhilSouth Angle)
