Lamitan City mayor orders heightened security

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Lamitan City Mayor Rosita Furigay has ordered the local police and called on military forces to further strengthen security in the city.

Furigay issued the order as she condemned Tuesday's bomb explosion that she said, has "disrupted the peace and tranquility as well as tarnished the image of Lamitan City to the outside world."

Ten people, including the suspected bomb courier, were killed while seven others were wounded when an bomb-laden van exploded around 5:50 a.m. Tuesday at a checkpoint in the tri-boundary of barangays Bulanting, Colonia and Maganda in Lamitan City.

The van was heading for this city from the nearby town of Akbar when it was flagged down by troops at the checkpoint.

Furigay said the incident was “an act of terrorism” aimed to disturb the relatively peace and order situation, of Basilan in general and Lamitan City in particular.

“Their intention is to create havoc in the province,” she added.

Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Armed Force chief-of-staff, on Wednesday said that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was behind the incident and the motive was extortion.

Furigay also urged the residents of Lamitan City to help the police and military authorities in maintaining peace and order by providing timely information on the presence of lawless elements in their communities.

She expressed sympathy to the bereaved families of those who perished in the bombing incident.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said he was saddened by the incident since it will greatly affect the development efforts of the local chief executives in Basilan province.

“They have invested a lot of efforts to develop Basilan and of course Lamitan City,” he added. (PNA)