In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

3 MILF men unhurt as bomb explodes in Maguindanao

By Edwin Fernandez

November 25, 2019, 8:42 am

<p><strong>ROADSIDE BOMBING.</strong> Followers of a ranking Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader survived a roadside bombing in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Sunday morning (Nov. 24, 2019). A motorcycle rigged with an improvised bomb went off as the vehicle owned by Datu Item Ampatuan, commander of the MILF 106th base command, was passing by the area. Authorities said the bombing bore the signature style of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. <em>(Photo courtesy of Shariff Aguak PNP)</em></p>

ROADSIDE BOMBING. Followers of a ranking Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader survived a roadside bombing in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Sunday morning (Nov. 24, 2019). A motorcycle rigged with an improvised bomb went off as the vehicle owned by Datu Item Ampatuan, commander of the MILF 106th base command, was passing by the area. Authorities said the bombing bore the signature style of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. (Photo courtesy of Shariff Aguak PNP)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – A motorbike rigged with a powerful improvised bomb was set off by suspected extremists Sunday morning while the car of an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was passing by along a road here.

The motorbike exploded at 10:45 a.m. while the Toyota pick-up truck of commander Datu Item Ampatuan, head of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 106th base command, was passing through Barangay Poblacion in the area.

Colonel Arnold Santiago, Maguindanao police provincial director, said Ampatuan was not in the car but his followers, identified by police as Arsad Lintang, Jumer Mamasapano, Norodin Sansaluna, Johaimirin Sansaluna, and driver Jeanor Lintang, all escaped unhurt.

Santiago said the explosive was detonated using a mobile phone that could be the handiwork of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Police and military bomb experts said the explosives used bore the signature style of the BIFF and similar to those set off in populated areas in South Central Mindanao in the past.

The MILF and BIFF had been at odds after the signing of the GPH and MILF peace accord and the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Last month, eight MILF members were massacred by BIFF radicals in Barangay Dasawao, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao. (PNA) 

Comments