JONG CADION
Chief of reporters
PAGADIAN CITY– A bus blowing up on the way to Ozamiz City could have been a repetition of the catastrophic event that happened in the city last February 2000, aggravating more the already volatile peace and serious condition in the region.
But such a grim scenario was foiled from happening because of the vigilance of several commuters of a Rural Transit Bus and the swift action of the authorities to diffuse the said bomb.
The RTMI bus, with body No. 1112 and driven by Faustino Balagtas, arrived from Zamboanga City at the city’s Integrated Bus Terminal in Bolatok before noon.
It was scheduled to leave for Cagayan de Oro via Ozamiz City at 2:00 p.m.
Seconds after leaving the bus terminal gate, two passengers noticed an unattended package at the rear portion of the bus and pointed this to the bus conductor.
“Akong gihikap ang usa bug-at man ug maayo nga pagka masking tape mao to nga misinggit ko sa driver ug pahunong sa sakyanan,” the bus conductor, who asked that his name be withheld, told MINDANAO MONITOR.
Responding members of the 35EODT Bomb Disposal Unit and elements of the 53rd IB held the bus for a few minutes, told the passengers to disembark and the area cordoned as K9 dogs sniff the suspicious box to determine its contents.
T/Sgt Allan Cayud-ong later told journalists the suspected box contained two 60-mm mortar rounds interlinked to each other with four AA batteries, an electrical chord and a blasted timing device.
The improvised explosive device (IED) was then transferred by the EOD Bomb Disposal Unit outside the bus and defused it by using a water disruptor.
IBT Terminal in-charge Lauro Mendoza also told this paper that he has alerted the passenger station’s security men, including dispatchers and laborers to be on the lookout for suspicious baggage being left unattended.
He added that a few minutes before the discovery of the bomb, a saleslady from one of the stalls there told him that she received a text message about a bomb placed inside one of the buses parked at IBT.
PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena, in an interview with media, said that there was no specific threat relayed by police intelligence indicating that a terrorist activity will occur in his area of responsibility.
Well, Ochotorena has never heard of Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah “Bobby” Dimaporo, who suggested in an interview with DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, Monday morning that from the bounds of Lanao del Norte to Zamboanga del Sur, authorities showing a soft attitude on its security measures would make the Dec. 18 incident in Iligan City a probable occurrence.
Ochotorena countered that the watchfulness of the passengers saved their lives from grave danger as he assured media that police investigators were sent out to find out who planted the bomb.
“We are not discounting these terrorist acts. We have to be vigilant at all times,” he added.
Mayor Samuel Co has reiterated his order to all law enforcement and security agencies to be observant and apply tight security measures in their respective assignments following the twin blast in Iligan, which killed two civilians and injured 48.
Two days after the explosions, authorities found another two IEDs in separate locations as rumors continued to circulate among residents about a planned terror attack in the city timed during the yuletide celebration.
WITH REPORTS FROM JAMES TREMEDAL
Chief of reporters
PAGADIAN CITY– A bus blowing up on the way to Ozamiz City could have been a repetition of the catastrophic event that happened in the city last February 2000, aggravating more the already volatile peace and serious condition in the region.
But such a grim scenario was foiled from happening because of the vigilance of several commuters of a Rural Transit Bus and the swift action of the authorities to diffuse the said bomb.
The RTMI bus, with body No. 1112 and driven by Faustino Balagtas, arrived from Zamboanga City at the city’s Integrated Bus Terminal in Bolatok before noon.
It was scheduled to leave for Cagayan de Oro via Ozamiz City at 2:00 p.m.
Seconds after leaving the bus terminal gate, two passengers noticed an unattended package at the rear portion of the bus and pointed this to the bus conductor.
“Akong gihikap ang usa bug-at man ug maayo nga pagka masking tape mao to nga misinggit ko sa driver ug pahunong sa sakyanan,” the bus conductor, who asked that his name be withheld, told MINDANAO MONITOR.
Responding members of the 35EODT Bomb Disposal Unit and elements of the 53rd IB held the bus for a few minutes, told the passengers to disembark and the area cordoned as K9 dogs sniff the suspicious box to determine its contents.
T/Sgt Allan Cayud-ong later told journalists the suspected box contained two 60-mm mortar rounds interlinked to each other with four AA batteries, an electrical chord and a blasted timing device.
The improvised explosive device (IED) was then transferred by the EOD Bomb Disposal Unit outside the bus and defused it by using a water disruptor.
IBT Terminal in-charge Lauro Mendoza also told this paper that he has alerted the passenger station’s security men, including dispatchers and laborers to be on the lookout for suspicious baggage being left unattended.
He added that a few minutes before the discovery of the bomb, a saleslady from one of the stalls there told him that she received a text message about a bomb placed inside one of the buses parked at IBT.
PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena, in an interview with media, said that there was no specific threat relayed by police intelligence indicating that a terrorist activity will occur in his area of responsibility.
Well, Ochotorena has never heard of Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah “Bobby” Dimaporo, who suggested in an interview with DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, Monday morning that from the bounds of Lanao del Norte to Zamboanga del Sur, authorities showing a soft attitude on its security measures would make the Dec. 18 incident in Iligan City a probable occurrence.
Ochotorena countered that the watchfulness of the passengers saved their lives from grave danger as he assured media that police investigators were sent out to find out who planted the bomb.
“We are not discounting these terrorist acts. We have to be vigilant at all times,” he added.
Mayor Samuel Co has reiterated his order to all law enforcement and security agencies to be observant and apply tight security measures in their respective assignments following the twin blast in Iligan, which killed two civilians and injured 48.
Two days after the explosions, authorities found another two IEDs in separate locations as rumors continued to circulate among residents about a planned terror attack in the city timed during the yuletide celebration.
WITH REPORTS FROM JAMES TREMEDAL