DISARMED. The three 60mm mortar projectiles found by villagers in Barangay Pisan, Kabacan, North Cotabato on Saturday (Oct. 10, 2020). The Army has lauded the villagers for reporting their discovery to authorities and preventing the ordnances' land in the hands of lawless groups. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Military officials in North Cotabato have lauded the alertness of villagers and their prompt reporting to authorities about the discovery of three live unexploded ordnances Saturday in Kabacan town.
“We really appreciate the move of villagers for immediately reporting to our troops on the ground about their discovery, thereby saving lives,” Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the 6th Infantry Division commander, said in a statement Sunday.
Uy, also chief of the Joint Task Force Central, said villagers found the three 60 mm mortar projectiles beside a creek in Barangay Pisan of Kabacan town.
Personnel of the 90th Infantry Battalion and the 35th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, together with Kabacan municipal police, responded to the area to conduct safety procedures that eventually led to the disabling of the ordnance.
Uy appealed to the public to do the same and to report any suspicious objects or persons to prevent accidents and terroristic attacks.
“It was good the ordnances did not land in the hands of local terrorists who could convert the mortars into improvised bombs,” he said.
Uy also urged the local officials in the province to help fight violent extremism.
Kabacan is one of the areas where the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have set off explosives in the past, targeting civilians and government forces. (PNA)
