Police, Army Presence in Pikit Public Market Helped Foil Bombing Attempt

Pikit, North Cotabato – Police authorities here believed the presence of uniform police and soldiers in populated areas of Pikit and the alert civilians helped prevent another bombing attempt in North Cotabato, the 10th since January 1.

Supt. Jordane Maribojo, chief of police-led Task Force Pikit, said the deployment of police in the town center forced the bomber Tuesday night to balk and redirect its mission of setting off an improvised bomb.

Two men riding tandem on a motorbike were blasted to death when the IED fashioned from 81 mm mortar with mobile phone as trigger mechanism went off at 6:30 along a busy street here.

“It has the signature of the BIFF,” Capt. Joanne Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said of the IED.

The BIFF or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were believed to be behind the series of bombings in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Its members were trained by Malaysian bombing expert Zulkifli Bin Hir and Filipino counterpart Basit Usman, according to Army and Police intelligence officials.

Petinglay, citing Army intelligence reports, said the followers of BIFF may launch bombing sorties around Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan” was believed to have been killed in the PNP-SAF assault Sunday but his Filipino aide, BAsit Usman, managed to escape although wounded.

Maribojo identified the two suspected bombers as Jomar Palaguyan, 27, and Asrap Mohamad, 28, both of Barangay Balatikan in the area.

A bystander, identified as Frauline Hera, 36, was injured in the incident.

Maribojo said the presence of soldiers and policemen, anticipating a spill over of the armed conflict in nearby Mamasapano, Maguindanao, forced the suspects to balked and divert its plot to set off the IED.

Following the incident, police and Army units in North Cotabato and Maguindanao have been placed on heightened alert in anticipation of “diversionary” attacks by Moro rebels.

Bus terminals, public and private supermarkets, Churches and schools have been secured to thwart any attempt for destabilization. (PNA) FPV/NYP/EOF